PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Brett Myers had a career-high 11 strikeouts, but could have used some of his team's runs from Saturday.
Myers allowed just four hits in six innings, but was outdueled by Kris Benson as the Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded from a 15-run drubbing to blank the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0.
Benson (2-0) gave up six hits, walked one and struck out six to improve to 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies.
The top pick in the 1996 draft, Benson threw 63 of 111 pitches for strikes.
"I knew it was going to be a tough ballgame," Benson said. "Their guy was pitching well. I knew I had to just keep on going out there and throwing up zeroes until we could score another run. My changeup was huge. This is the most I've thrown my changeup probably my whole career. The key for me was getting my channgeup over for strikes and keeping them off balance."
Phillies first baseman Jim Thome went 0-for-4, ending his streak of reaching base safely at 60 straight games. It was the longest streak in the major leagues since Mark McGwire reached in 62 consecutive games from September 16, 1995-June 18, 1996.
Thome also had a costly error as he dropped Benson's popup with one out in the fifth inning. Thome still had a chance to get the out after picking the ball up, but Myers failed to cover first.
"I just dropped it," Thome said. "I went back on it and it just came out of my glove. It was unfortunate it had to happen in that situation."
Kenny Lofton followed the error by beating out a bunt and Myers walked Jason Kendall to load the bases. Brian Giles grounded into a forceout to plate Benson for a 1-0 lead before Aramis Ramirez grounded out to end the inning.
"I had a feeling the game would turn on one play," Pirates manager Lloyd McLendon said. "We certainly got a break there. We took advantage of it. Kenny had a good bunt there."
Myers (0-1), who made an appearance Tuesday in an extended spring training game, threw 62 of 101 pitches for strikes and walked four batters.
"I felt good today and I felt real comfortable," Myers said. "Everything came off of my fastball. It was locating pretty well today. Without your fastball location, many of the other pitches aren't going to have any effect."
Mike Williams worked a perfect ninth inning for his third save in as many chances.
After Dan Plesac and Terry Adamas worked around a pair of hits in the seventh, rookie Eric Junge started the eighth for the Phillies. Kevin Young led off with a double to left-center field and one out later stole third base. Pokey Reese drove in Young with a single to right before Jack Wilson grounded into a double play.
Scott Sauerbeck replaced Benson and allowed consecutive singles to Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco. Rollins moved to third when Bobby Abreu flied out, but was unable to score as Thome hit a comebacker and Polanco was forced at second. Brian Boehringer replaced Sauerbeck and struck out Pat Burrell to preserve the shutout.
Philadelphia had 19 hits in 16-1 victory on Saturday.
