BC-BBN–Expos-Phillies,0409

Phillies 6, Expos 3

By DAN GELSTON

AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – David Bell, Pat Burrell, Placido Polanco and Bobby Abreu homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over Montreal 6-3 Saturday, the Expos’ sixth straight loss.

Kevin Millwood (1-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings and struck out seven to win his fifth straight decision against Montreal.

Roberto Hernandez and Billy Wagner finished, with Wagner getting three straight outs for his fourth save. Philadelphia won its third straight following a 1-6 start.

Montreal has scored just 15 runs in 11 games and has not scored more than three runs in any game. The Expos are on their longest losing streak since dropping six in a row from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 last year.

The Expos, who had seven hits, have the worst batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the major leagues. Left fielder Terrmel Sledge went 0-for-4 and is 0-for-18 this season.

With the score 3-all in the fourth, Burrell singled off John Patterson (1-1) and Bell homered. Abreu added an eighth-inning homer off Chad Bentz.

Patterson (1-1) gave up five runs and five hits in four innings.

Polanco hit a solo shot in the first and three batters later Burrell had a two-run homer that hit the netting on the right-field foul pole. Burrell also had one of three Philadelphia homers in Friday’s 6-3 win.

Montreal tied it on Brad Wilkerson’s RBI single in the second and Brian Schneider’s two-run homer in the fourth.

Millwood retired the side in order in the next two innings, then stranded runners at the corners in the sixth.

Notes: Jim Thome doubled his first time up after he went 4-for-4 Friday. It was his 1,500th career hit. … Manager Larry Bowa gave SS Jimmy Rollins the game off and put Marlon Byrd, who was batting seventh, back in the leadoff spot. Rollins is in a season-long slump, hitting only .121. “He’s been swinging at a lot of bad pitches,” Bowa said. “He’s overanxious. Stuff like that happens when you’re trying too hard.” … Bowa said Thome has been bothered by a bone bruise on his left hand. Bowa said Thome hurt the hand during the home opener Monday. … Expos manager Frank Robinson moved 2B Jose Vidro to the cleanup spot to shake up his team’s offense Vidro was 0-for-4. … The Phillies have only one error this season.

AP-ES-04-17-04 1548EDT