PITTSBURGH Phillies prefer Worrell, Wagner to end games

The Pirates were unable to hold a lead in losing, 5-4.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- This is just how the Philadelphia Phillies planned the late innings: Tim Worrell in the eighth, Billy Wagner in the ninth and Jose Mesa nowhere in sight.
The Phillies got 32/3 scoreless innings from their upgraded bullpen and rallied for two runs in the eighth to beat Pittsburgh 5-4 Wednesday night.
After losing 2-1 to Mesa, the closer they cast off following a terrible 2003 season, and the Pirates on Monday, this was more like the Phillies scripted it. Their bullpen was in control and they had just enough timely hitting.
The hitting, defense
Pat Burrell had two more hits, giving him five in two games, and drove in two runs. Burrell, the left fielder, also made an excellent throw to shortstop Jimmy Rollins as they threw out Raul Mondesi trying to stretch a double into a triple to start the Pirates' eighth.
Cormier (1-0) preceded Worrell and Wagner with 12/3 scoreless relief innings.
"You sit at home at night and go 'Rheal Cormier, Tim Worrell and Wagner, hope it works,' " manager Larry Bowa said. "There will be times when it doesn't work, but the percentages are in our favor when we get to them. Over 162 games, we'll be in good shape when we go to those guys."
The Phillies trailed 4-3 until Pirates reliever Brian Boehringer couldn't get an out in the eighth, allowing Mike Lieberthal's single and Jimmy Rollins' double ahead of walks to David Bell and pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee that forced in the tying run. Marlon Byrd's RBI force out with Brian Meadows pitching made it 5-4.
"Are we going to blow leads? Of course we are," said manager Lloyd McClendon, whose bullpen was the NL's worst last season. "But you hope it's just one bad outing. Brian Boehringer threw well in spring training."
After that, Worrell pitched a scoreless eighth and Wagner struck out the side in the ninth for his first save with the Phillies.
Wagner, who had never pitched for any team but the Astros, said, "That [the first save] is always the tough one in any season. You always want to impress a new organization after a trade, with all the media hype, you want to do well."
The Pirates wasted Craig Wilson's second homer in as many games and a scoreless seventh inning by reliever Mike Johnston in his major league debut. Johnston, the second known major leaguer to have Tourette's syndrome, struck out Burrell and Bobby Abreu to end the inning with a runner on first.