Burrell has 17 RBI in April

MIAMI (AP) -- Pat Burrell's run-producing hits are getting

longer.

The most prolific slugger in baseball so far this season hit a

two-run homer into the upper deck in the first inning, extending

his streak of at least one RBI in every game, and the Philadelphia

Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 4-1 on Monday night.

Burrell's fourth homer gave him 17 RBI, most in the major

leagues and five shy of the team record for April, set by Von Hayes

in 1989. Burrell is batting .448 with a slugging percentage of

.966.

"He's really carrying our team right now, and it has been

great," first baseman Jim Thome said. "He's got a ton of ability,

and we all strive to get to the point where you get locked in like

that."

Brett Myers (1-0) allowed an unearned run in 5 2/3 innings

against Florida's fitful attack. In three victories, the Marlins

have outscored opponents 26-0. In four losses, they've been

outscored 13-6.

"I can't explain it," Florida slugger Miguel Cabrera said.

"It's frustrating when you score eight runs one day, and then. ...

You have to think about what you did wrong."

Myers took the mound with a lifetime ERA of 6.41 in nine games

against Florida but struck out eight, walked one and allowed three

hits.

Carlos Delgado doubled twice for the Marlins, but he flied out

against Rheal Cormier with two on in the eighth. Tim Worrell then

came on to retire Mike Lowell, and Billy Wagner pitched the ninth

for the Phillies' first save.

Florida's Luis Castillo, hitless in his past 17 at-bats, failed

to hit the ball past the pitcher in three trips before Damion

Easley pinch hit for him in the eighth.

"We need somebody who can hit the ball," manager Jack McKeon

said. "He's not hitting. We've got to get some offense

somewhere."

Castillo's average fell to .095.

Al Leiter (0-1) needed 114 pitches to get through five innings

before departing for a pinch hitter. He allowed five hits, four

walks and three runs.

Bobby Abreu scored twice and had two hits and three stolen bases

for the Phillies, who began the week leading the majors with 43

runs.

After Leiter hit Abreu with a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the

first, Burrell hit a homer estimated at 427 feet to give the Phils

a 2-0 lead. He said he resisted any temptation to admire his work

as he trotted to first.

"I remember [former major leaguer] Matt Williams said something

years ago in the paper -- 'Hit them like you're used to hitting

them,'" Burrell said.

His streak of at least one RBI in seven consecutive games is a

career best. He has a homer in his past three games.

"He's hotter than a firecracker," McKeon said. "You've got to

pitch accordingly. Guys that are hot, you've got to use your head

and keep the ball away from them."

Burrell cost the Phils a run in the second when he dropped a

two-out fly in left field to let Delgado score from second.

"It should have been a shutout," Burrell said. "But some guy

dropped the ball in left field. It didn't travel as far as I

thought, so I was actually reaching for it."

Philadelphia went ahead 3-1 in the fourth on a walk, a sacrifice

and a two-out single by Jimmy Rollins.

Abreu doubled leading off the seventh against Matt Perisho and

later scored on Thome's sacrifice fly.Game notes
The crowd of 11,416 was the lowest in Miami since last May

24. ... Leiter started in Miami against the Phils for the first

time since May 1, 1996. ... The ERA for Florida starters rose to

1.59. ... Lowell's average against Myers dropped to .167

(3-for-18). ... Cabrera fouled a ball off his left ankle in the

first inning and had ice on it afterward, but he said he would be

able to play Tuesday.