Utley hit streak reaches 32 games; Marlins spank Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Distracted by trade speculation, Jon Lieber turned in a terrible performance.

Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs with a homer and two doubles and Josh Johnson pitched seven strong innings to lead the Florida Marlins over the Philadelphia Phillies 15-2 on Monday.

Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 32 games for Philadelphia, but Lieber was roughed up on a day when he wasn't sure if he would take the mound.

Elias Says
Johnson Rookie Josh Johnson allowed two runs in seven innings in the Marlins' 15-2 victory over the Phillies on Monday, to take the NL lead in earned run average (2.52). Another rookie, Francisco Liriano, leads the AL and the majors with a 1.96 mark. This is the first time in major-league history that rookies lead both leagues in ERA at the end of July. • For more Elias Says, click here

Lieber (4-8) allowed nine runs and 13 hits, including three homers, in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander had been mentioned in trade talks, but didn't go anywhere before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

"I'm not foolish to say it wasn't a distraction, especially when you have to pitch on the deadline and you don't know if you're going to pitch," Lieber said. "It's frustrating."

Johnson (9-5) gave up one run and five hits. The 22-year-old rookie struck out eight and lowered his NL-best ERA to 2.52.

"He was outstanding," Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "He stayed ahead of hitters and made them hit his pitch."

Jeremy Hermida hit a three-run homer and Miguel Olivo and Dan Uggla each added a two-run shot for the Marlins, who snapped a three-game losing skid.

A day after sending two-time All-Star right fielder Bobby Abreu

and starting pitcher Cory Lidle to the New York Yankees for four minor-league prospects, the Phillies traded left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier to Cincinnati for another minor-leaguer.

But general manager Pat Gillick couldn't find a taker for slugger Pat Burrell, who has two years and $27 million remaining on his contract that includes a no-trade clause.

The underachieving Phillies, who trail the Reds by 5½ games in the NL wild-card standings, made four trades in the past week to dump salaries and restock their farm system.

"There were things we would've liked to get done," Gillick said. "We got a few things accomplished, but we didn't do everything on our list."

One player they plan to keep in Philadelphia for a while is Utley. The All-Star second baseman was 0-for-2 against Johnson before he singled off the glove of diving second baseman Uggla. Utley's streak is the longest in the major leagues this season and the

second-longest in team history.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has the longest Phillies streak at 38 games -- the final 36 of last season and the first two this year. Ed Delahanty had a 31-game run in 1899.

"I usually make that play," Uggla said.

Lieber completely unraveled in the fifth, allowing four runs after Mike Jacobs' fly ball fell in for a double because right fielder David Dellucci lost it in the sun.

Lieber intentionally walked Cabrera and fanned Josh Willingham for the second out, but Hermida homered to right-center to make it 8-1. Three straight singles, the last by Johnson, chased Lieber, who jogged off the mound to a chorus of boos.

Lieber won 17 games in his first season in Philadelphia but has been a major disappointment this year.

"I think I was called everything today," Lieber said. "It was embarrassing, not the game you want to pitch."

Cabrera put Florida ahead 2-0 in the first inning with an opposite-field homer to right. Olivo made it 4-0 with another opposite-field drive in the second.

Chris Coste homered to cut it to 4-1 in the third.

Johnson helped himself with a two-out RBI double off the wall in left-center that put the Marlins ahead 5-1 in the fourth. He had an RBI single in the four-run fifth.

"I'm just swinging at the right time," Johnson said.Game notes
After the game, the Phillies recalled outfielder Chris Roberson and sent outfielder Michael Bourn to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... Johnson was 1-for-28 this season before his double. ... Nine of Olivo's 12 homers have come on first pitches. ... Coste, a 33-year-old rookie, is hitting .343 (24-for-70) with three homers and 15 RBI since getting his first call-up to the majors. ... Utley is hitting .404 (55-for-136) with 20 multihit games during his streak.