WINTER HAVEN, Fla., March 4 (UPI) -- Greg LaRooca was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a passed ball to end the game Monday and allow the Philadelphia Phillies to escape with a 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
LaRooca, who had two hits and three RBI, attempted to score after Doug Nickel's pitch eluded Jeremy Salazar. Cleveland had scored two runs in the ninth to pull within 7-6.
Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer and Jason Michaels knocked in two runs for the Phillies, who had 14 hits.
Cleveland right fielder Alex Escobar, the key player acquired in an offseason trade that sent Roberto Alomar to the New York Mets, suffered a left knee injury in the fourth inning while running down a fly ball. He was to undergo an MRI later Monday night.
Darnell McDonald had three hits for the Indians.
