National League Roundup: Phils score 13 in an inning

Philadelphia two runs short of N.L. record

? Once the Philadelphia Phillies got started, nobody wanted to stop.

Philadelphia scored a team-record 13 runs in the fourth inning — 10 with two outs — and beat the Cincinnati Reds, 13-1, Sunday.

Ricky Ledee’s three-run homer capped the outburst, which fell just two runs short of the National League record for runs in an inning.

“I didn’t want to be the last out,” said Ledee, who walked and scored his first time up in the fourth.

The Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 times in the first inning against Cincinnati May 21, 1952.

The major league mark is 17 runs, set by the Boston Red Sox against Detroit June 18, 1953, in the seventh inning.

The Phillies’ 13 runs, aided by seven walks, surpassed the club record of 12 in the sixth inning July 21, 1923, against the Chicago Cubs. Randy Wolf (2-0) was the beneficiary of all the offense in this one.

It was another ugly performance for the Reds at new Great American Ball Park, where they are 3-6 this season. Cincinnati last allowed 13 runs in an inning in a 20-7 loss to Brooklyn Aug. 8, 1954.

After facing just 11 batters through the first three innings, Ryan Dempster (1-1) faced 11 in the fourth alone. Bobby Abreu walked and scored twice, and Jim Thome singled and scored twice in the inning.

Thome couldn’t remember ever getting two hits in an inning before.

“It doesn’t happen a lot, but when it does you try to take advantage of it,” he said. “I’m just glad I got that opportunity.”

Philadelphia center fielder Marlon Byrd, top, is tagged out at home plate by Cincinnati catcher Jason LaRue on a throw from the Reds' Ruben Mateo from center field to end the third inning. Byrd sustained a cut on his left knee on the play and left the game, which the Phillies won, 13-1, Sunday in Cincinnati.

Abreu walked to start the fourth, Thome singled and Pat Burrell followed with an RBI double to left. Thome scored on David Bell’s groundout, and Mike Lieberthal popped up for the second out. Then the onslaught began.

The Reds intentionally walked Ledee to get to Wolf, who drove in Burrell with a sharp RBI single to right to make it 3-0. Dempster then walked three successive batters, forcing in two more runs.

Thome drove in two more with a bases-loaded single to make it 7-0.

Scott Sullivan took over, walking the first two batters he faced to force in another run. Lieberthal singled in two runs, and Ledee hit a three-run homer to right, his first of the year.

Braves 7, Marlins 1

Miami — Greg Maddux, off to the worst start in his career, earned his first win of the season by pitching Atlanta past Florida. Vinny Castilla homered and drove in five runs as the Braves stopped Florida’s four-game winning streak.

Diamondbacks 9, Brewers 3

Phoenix — Elmer Dessens became the first Arizona starter to win this year, and rookie Robby Hammock drove in four runs with a homer and double as the Diamondbacks beat Milwaukee.

Expos 2, Mets 1, 10 innings

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Orlando Cabrera hit a tying home run off Armando Benitez in the ninth inning, and Jose Vidro had a game-winning shot leading off the 10th as Montreal beat the Mets. It was 136 degrees on the field when the game started.

Cubs 4, Pirates 3

Chicago — Corey Patterson hit an RBI single, and pinch-hitter Troy O’Leary had a sacrifice fly as Chicago rallied in the eighth inning to beat Pittsburgh. The Cubs trailed 3-2 going into the eighth.

Cardinals 11, Astros 8

Houston — Edgar Renteria homered twice and matched a career high with five RBIs as St. Louis roughed up Roy Oswalt.

Padres 6, Rockies 2

San Diego — Rondell White’s two-run homer highlighted a four-run seventh inning. Mark Kotsay also drove in two runs.

Giants 5, Dodgers 4, 12 innings

San Francisco– Marvin Benard hit an RBI double off the wall in the 12th inning as San Francisco dramatically extended its best start in 65 years. A few minutes earlier, Benard made a spectacular throw from right field to third base, throwing out Todd Hundley to hurt Los Angeles’ final rally.