O's pound out 20 hits, complete doubleheader sweep

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles played 18 innings during a 12-hour workday that included a bothersome rain delay and a tedious break of nearly three hours between games of a split doubleheader.

Elias Says
The Phillies were swept in a day/night twinbill at Baltimore, with the Orioles defeating a pair of rookie starters, Cole Hamels in the day game and Scott Mathieson at night. It marked the first time since September 1997 that the Phillies played two games in one day, with a rookie pitcher starting each (Matt Beech and Darrin Winston). • For more Elias Says, Click here.

At least they had two wins to show for it. Their opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies, got nothing out of the experience except two more losses.

Ramon Hernandez homered and drove in four runs to key a 20-hit outburst that helped Kris Benson earn his ninth win and the Orioles breezed to a 12-5 victory Wednesday night for a doubleheader sweep.

In the first game, Erik Bedard allowed five hits over seven shutout innings, leading Baltimore to a 7-4 victory.

"It was a long day for both teams," Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. "I'm sure our guys are tired, but when you go to sleep with two wins under your belt, it makes it a little easier."

Hernandez also homered in the opener and totaled six RBI for the day. His three-run shot in the second game highlighted a four-run fourth that put Baltimore up 9-3.

Ryan Howard hit two homers to take the major-league lead with 27 and Chase Utley and David Dellucci also connected in the second game for the fading Phillies, who have lost seven straight and 15 of 18.

"Seems like we haven't won a game in a long time. It's a low time for us," said Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel, who was spared watching the first game from the bench while serving a one-game suspension. "I don't know where to turn to. If we can't get people out, we can't win games. We scored five runs and needed a lot more than that to win tonight."

The Phillies gave up a season high in hits and plunked four batters with pitches, including Nick Markakis after the rookie went 4-for-4 with three RBI -- both career highs. Baltimore's Miguel Tejada went 4-for-5 with two RBI.

Benson (9-5) allowed four runs and six hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander is 5-0 lifetime against Philadelphia.

Benson was lifted after loading the bases in the sixth with none out and Baltimore up 9-4. Todd Williams got a force at the plate and a double play, and the first teammate to greet him in the dugout was Benson.

"I thought the key to the game was Todd Williams in that situation," Perlozzo said.

Phillies starter Scott Mathieson (0-2) allowed five runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings before a 41-minute rain delay. He did not return.

Held scoreless until the eighth inning of the first game, the Phillies needed two at-bats to take a 1-0 lead in the nightcap. Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Dellucci.

An RBI double by Melvin Mora tied it in the bottom half, and Brian Roberts doubled in a run in the second to put the Orioles ahead for good.

Baltimore made it 5-1 in the third. After Hernandez drove in a run with a groundout, Mathieson walked Jeff Conine and Markakis hit a two-run double before rain stopped play.

The delay had an immediate effect on Benson. Utley hit the right-hander's third pitch for a home run, and Howard's drive with one out got Philadelphia to 5-3.

The Orioles and Hernandez answered in the fourth against Aaron Fultz, and the rout was on.

Game notes
The first game was a makeup of Tuesday night's rainout. ... Hernandez took over the team lead in RBI (59) from Tejada (57). ... It was Howard's fifth career multihomer game. ... During the second game, the Phillies placed pitcher Brett Myers on the temporary inactive list and optioned him to Class A Clearwater, one day after he asked for a leave of absence following his arrest on charges of hitting his wife in the face.