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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Omar Daal doesn't look anything like the
pitcher who nearly lost 20 games last year.
|  | | Omar Daal, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, also fueled Philly's five-run seventh with an RBI single. |
Daal took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and sparked a
five-run inning with an RBI single as the Philadelphia Phillies
beat the Colorado Rockies 7-1 Tuesday night.
"This is the best I've felt," said Daal, who came to the
Phillies in the Curt Schilling trade last summer. "My location was
great and I kept the ball down."
The first-place Phillies, who tied the Chicago Cubs for worst
record in the majors last season, improved to 15-10 and sent Denny
Neagle (2-1) to his first loss with Colorado.
Daal didn't allow a hit until Neifi Perez led off the seventh
with a double. Daal lost his shutout on a RBI single by Todd Helton
that cut it to 2-1.
But the Phillies broke the game open with five runs in the
seventh inning.
Daal (3-0) allowed one run, four hits, struck out six and walked
one in eight innings. Despite going 4-19 last season, he was
Philadelphia's Opening-Day starter.
"He pitched unbelievable," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said.
"He changed speeds, kept them off balance."
Neagle, signed to a $51 million, five-year deal with Colorado in
the offseason, allowed six runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He
struck out five, walked three and gave up just two hits before the
seventh.
"It's frustrating," Neagle said after launching into an expletive-laced tirade on allowing a hit to Daal. "That's the best
stuff I've had all year."
Daal hit an RBI single with two outs in the seventh to make it
3-1. He pumped his fist on the way to first as the grounder eluded
Perez' diving attempt.
After Brian Hunter singled, Jimmy Rollins knocked Neagle out of
the game with a RBI single. Scott Rolen greeted reliever Bobby
Chouinard with a two-run double on his first pitch and Bobby Abreu
followed with a RBI double.
"They might say, 'The pitcher got a hit. We have to get one,
too,' " said Daal, who was nearly lifted for a pinch hitter before
Bowa decided to let him bat.
Daal didn't come close to allowing a hit in the first six
innings. The toughest play came when second baseman Marlon Anderson
ranged to his left to snag a low liner by Ben Petrick in the sixth.
He allowed just one baserunner – Larry Walker on a walk on a 3-2
pitch in the fourth – before Perez lined an 0-1 pitch down the
left-field line to start the seventh.
Perez scored on a two-out single to left by Helton. Greg Norton
followed with a single, but Daal struck out Mark Little to end the
inning.
"He had a lot of command," catcher Mike Lieberthal said. "His
sinker has been his pitch and he rarely falls behind."
Lieberthal gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI
double that scored Abreu, who singled to start the inning.
Lieberthal moved to third on a groundout and scored on Pat
Burrell's sacrifice fly.
"He's only the second left-handed starter we've seen so that
might have something to do with it," Rockies manager Buddy Bell
said. "But when a pitcher throws like that, there's not much you
can say."
Game notes
Daal didn't win his third game last year until Aug. 8. The
Phillies are 5-1 when he starts. ... Perez was 3-for-23 off Daal
before breaking up the no-hitter. ... Before the game, Colorado
placed 3B Jeff Cirillo on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to
April 27. ... Todd Hollandsworth didn't start despite a 14-game
hitting streak. 2B Todd Walker also didn't start against the
left-hander. ... Burrell struck out once and has fanned 37 times in
91 at-bats.
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RECAPS
Baltimore 3
Tampa Bay 1
Cleveland 13
Kansas City 2
NY Yankees 4
Minnesota 0
Detroit 6
Texas 3
Anaheim 6
Chi. White Sox 4
Toronto 5
Oakland 4
Boston 2
Seattle 0
Cincinnati 7
Los Angeles 6
Florida 4
St. Louis 3
Arizona 8
Montreal 3
Philadelphia 7
Colorado 1
San Francisco 11
Pittsburgh 6
NY Mets 7
Houston 5
Milwaukee 5
Atlanta 3
San Diego 10
Chicago Cubs 3
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