Phillies rout Indians

6/24/2010

PHILADELPHIA — Joe Blanton pitched effectively into the eighth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies roughed up Fausto Carmona to complete a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 12-3 victory Thursday.

Placido Polanco had four hits, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth each had three hits and catcher Dane Sardinha connected for his first career home run for the Phillies. It was Philadelphia's highest offensive output since scoring 12 runs against Pittsburgh on May 17. Every Phillie scored and reached base at least once.

A thunderstorm pounded the field with two outs in the eighth, causing a delay of 1 hour, 37 minutes. High winds made putting the tarp on the field difficult for the grounds' crew, but cooled off a 96-degree day.

Nelson Figueroa got four outs for the Phillies.

The Phillies have won three in a row and six of eight. They had two five-run innings, and the 15 hits was their most since recording 17 on May 15 at Milwaukee.

In dropping their fifth straight game, Cleveland showed its ineptitude during a crazy, five-run second inning that began with singles by Werth, Raul Ibanez and Wilson Valdez. The next batter, Sardinha, grounded to third baseman Andy Marte, but his throw home went off catcher Carlos Santana's glove and rolled to the backstop, allowing two runs to score.

Carmona then hit Blanton with a pitch to reload the bases. Shane Victorino drove in a run with a groundout, and Polanco singled in a run. Blanton scored the fifth run on a sacrifice fly.

Carmona lasted four-plus innings, and gave up seven runs — five earned — on nine hits. He walked none and didn't strike out a batter. Carmona allowed five or more earned runs for the only the second time in his 15 starts.

Blanton (3-5) cruised with the run support, tossing a season-high 7 2-3 innings. He allowed three runs and six hits, while walking none and striking out eight. His faltered in the fifth, when Jason Donald hit a two-run home run. Donald had three of Cleveland's six hits.

After a poor stretch that saw his ERA rise to a season-worst 7.28, the right-hander had surrendered three runs in each of his last two outings.

Werth has been especially hot for Philadelphia, going 15 for 38 (.395) in his previous 12 games, after a 3-for-41 (.073) slump. He had three hits for the second straight game.

NOTES: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was tossed arguing a play at first base in the second inning, his second ejection in three games. ... Phillies starter J.A. Happ (strained left forearm) is scheduled to make his fifth rehab start on June 29, for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... NBA Hall-of-Famer Moses Malone threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Cleveland claimed infielder Jayson Nix off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.