Brogna's 7 RBIs Slams Padres

Curtain calls are not exactly a Philadelphia tradition. Rico Brogna really earned his.

Brogna homered twice and had a career-high seven RBIs on Wednesday as the Phillies routed the San Diego Padres for the second straight game, 15-1.

Brogna was 4-for-5 for the second straight day and is 20-for-35 (.571) with 15 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak. He is batting .359 in his last 34 games.

"I don't think I've ever seen that here before," said Terry Francona, the Phillies' manager since 1997.

Mike Lieberthal hit his 27th homer, tying Darren Daulton's club record for a catcher, set in 1992. Robert Person (8-3) rebounded from a tough loss in his previous start, when he blew a one-hitter and 4-1 lead in the ninth as the Phillies lost 8-5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 10 innings.

But it was Brogna's day. He had a two-run double in the second, doubled and scored in the third and added a two-run homer in the fourth that made it 9-1.

Brogna struck out in the sixth and then, after reliever Matt Whiteside turned a blowout into a laugher, Brogna hit a three-run homer to dead center, his 18th, off Dan Miceli to make it 15-1.

Brogna, familiar with curtain calls from his days in New York, stood briefly on the top step of the dugout and waved to the crowd.

"I haven't had one since I left the Mets," said Brogna, whose average has soared to .288 since he signed a $4.2 million, one-year contract extension on Aug. 18. "It was a lot of fun."

Asked if Brogna was reluctant to take his bow, Francona joked, "I thought he was going to pll a hamstring going up there."

It was another long, frustrating day for Padres pitchers, who allowed 33 runs in less than 24 hours. The Phillies beat San Diego 18-2 Tuesday night and took two of three in the series.

"We've never been pummeled this badly," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "We got embarrassed here."

The Padres lost for the 26th time in 33 games, the frustration evident when plate umpire Jerry Crawford ejected Dave Magadan and Bochy in the third inning.

"I'm sure he had heard enough, but he threw out a player who didn't say anything," Bochy said.

The Padres' relief pitching was so hideous that infielder Ed Giovanola was summoned to mop up in the seventh and did better than most of the real pitchers. He allowed a hit and two walks in 1 1-3 scoreless innings.

"I just tried to throw the ball right over the middle," Giovanola said.

San Diego had a 12.60 ERA in the series, with an incredible amount of damage coming in the two innings pitched by Whiteside. After allowing nine runs and 10 hits in 1 2-3 innings Tuesday, Whiteside gave up four runs and two hits and retired only one batter for a 58.50 ERA.

Starter Matt Clement (6-12) allowed nine runs seven earned and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings. He walked four and struck out eight.

Bobby Abreu, second in the NL batting race with a .350 average, was 2-for-3, scored two runs and stole a base. Abreu and Larry Walker duel head-to-head this weekend in Colorado.

"There's no doubt Bobby can make a run for it," Brogna said.

After Whiteside gave up Kevin Sefcik's RBI double and allowed the Phillies to load the bases in the seventh, Miceli walked Scott Rolen to force in a run and threw a wild pitch to bring in another, making it 12-1.

Person gave up one run and five hits in six innings, walking three and striking out six.

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