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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Kevin Tapani's pitch to Bobby Abreu started out
the way he wanted. It ended up on Sheffield Avenue.
Abreu hit a tiebreaking home run off Tapani starting the eighth
inning Thursday, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Chicago
Cubs 3-2.
|  | | Bobby Abreu, right, is met by teammate Pat Burrell after hitting his tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning. |
"You make a mistake in location to the No. 3 hitter and you're
going to pay for it," Tapani said. "I didn't locate well. I
should've been better there."
Doug Glanville also hit a solo homer for the Phillies, who have
won 10 of their last 17.
With the score 2-all, Abreu connected off Tapani (6-8), sending
the ball onto Sheffield Avenue, over the right-field bleachers.
Mark Brownson (1-0) allowed one run, two hits and three walks in
2 2/3 innings. Jeff Brantley, Philadelphia's fourth pitcher, got
three outs for his 15th save in 18 chances.
Brantley had saved 13 in a row but blew three of his previous
four opportunities before Thursday's perfect ninth.
"I'm not going to worry about how much I stink," Brantley
said. "I don't care if he sticks me in the back of the bullpen.
Today, I felt great."
Joe Girardi and Glenallen Hill each hit solo homers for the
Cubs, who lost for only the third time in 10 games.
Tapani gave up three runs, six hits and three walks, striking
out six in eight innings. He has allowed 28 homers, six shy of the
career high he set in 1996.
"I try to limit them as best I can," Tapani said of the home
runs.
Tapani just hasn't gotten much run support this season. The Cubs
were averaging 3.4 runs per start while he's on the mound.
"It's tough for Tap," Cubs manager Don Baylor said. "He
pitched his heart out. He's better than 6-8. He just pitched
exceptionally well."
Girardi's two-out homer in the fourth off Bruce Chen was his
first since May 30. Tapani retired 10 straight before Glanville
homered leading off the sixth.
Scott Rolen and Pat Burrell hit consecutive doubles later in the
sixth for a 2-1 lead, but Hill greeted Brownson with a leadoff
homer in the bottom half.
Chen, making his second start since being acquired from Atlanta,
gave up one run and six hits in five innings and struck out seven.
He threw 94 pitches, over Phillies manager Terry Francona's
preferred limit of 85.
"He's a 23-year-old left-hander who seems very poised,"
Francona said of Chen.
Game notes
Chen was acquired July 12 from the Braves for pitcher Andy
Ashby. Thursday was his 24th appearance but only his second start
this season, both with the Phillies. ... Sammy Sosa singled in the
third, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. ... Tapani has
worked at least six innings in 18 of 21 starts this season. ...
Former Chicago Bear and new Chicago XFL head coach Dick Butkus sang
during the seventh-inning stretch. ... Rico Brogna, out since May
10th with a broken left arm, finished his rehab with Class-A
Clearwater of the Florida State League. Brogna is expected to
rejoin the Phillies in Pittsburgh on Friday.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
Sammy is staying, but Lynch gone as Cubs GM
RECAPS
Detroit 5
NY Yankees 3
Minnesota 5
Chi. White Sox 1
Boston 11
Baltimore 7
Baltimore 9
Boston 4
(2nd game)
Oakland 5
Seattle 4
Kansas City 10
Cleveland 6
Toronto 6
Tampa Bay 5
Anaheim 6
Texas 1
Montreal 4
NY Mets 1
Pittsburgh 9
Milwaukee 2
Philadelphia 3
Chicago Cubs 2
Atlanta 5
Florida 3
Florida 6
Atlanta 1
(2nd game)
Arizona 3
St. Louis 2
San Francisco 7
San Diego 3
Houston 6
Cincinnati 2
Los Angeles 6
Colorado 3
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