Phillies 4, Cubs 3

CHICAGO -Mike Lieberthal and Bobby Abreu each hit two-run homers following Chicago errors, helping the Philadelphia Phillies end their five-game losing skid with a 4-3 victory over the Cubs.

The Phillies trailed Atlanta by a half game in the NL East when they were swept in a four-game series by the Florida Marlins before losing 10-7 to the Cubs on Friday night.

Kevin Millwood (9-6) pitched 6 2-3 solid innings, retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. He allowed three runs – two earned – and three hits while striking out eight and walking three.

Tim Worrell pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 15 chances.

Todd Jones got Sammy Sosa to flyout to end the eighth inning in his Philadelphia debut. Jones was acquired in a trade on Friday with the Cincinnati Reds for right-hander Josh Hancock and a minor leaguer.

Jason Michaels reached safely on a fielding error by Cubs second baseman Todd Walker in the second inning, and three pitches later Lieberthal followed with his 12th homer into the left-field bleachers.

The Cubs tied it in the bottom half. Millwood allowed back-to-back walks to Moises Alou and Derrek Lee leading off and Aramis Ramirez followed with an opposite field RBI-single to right driving in Alou. Lee scored on Michael Barrett’s grounder.

The Phillies took advantage of another Chicago error in the third inning. Chase Utley hit a grounder to first base that went between Lee’s legs. Abreu followed with a drive to center for his 23rd homer, breaking a 2-all tie.

The Cubs benefited from an error in their half of the third when center fielder Michaels couldn’t handle Sosa’s two-out line drive for a two-base error. Sosa scored on Alou’s RBI double, cutting the Phillies lead to 4-3.

Matt Clement (8-10), who hasn’t won back-to-back starts since May 1 and 6 despite a 3.03 ERA, pitched well again. He struck out 10 and walked just one, allowed four runs – two earned – and four hits in seven innings. Clement retired 13 straight after giving up Abreu’s homer in the third inning.

Notes: Felix Rodriguez, who was acquired by Philadelphia in a separate trade Friday with San Francisco for Ricky Ledee and a minor pitcher, was not with the club. The Phillies are hopeful Rodriguez will join the team Sunday. … Phillies OF Marlon Byrd was recalled from Triple-A Scranton. … The Cubs season attendance is now up to 2,007,402, the first time in the club’s history they surpassed the two million mark in July.

AP-ES-07-31-04 1618EDT