Brown, Lee power Phillies past Brewers

Brown blasted a three-run homer in the first inning, and fell just a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

Domonic Brown continued his best impression of Robert Redford in "The Natural" Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

The former top prospect for the Phillies fell a double short of the cycle, after blasting a three-run homer in the first inning, then adding a single and a triple in a 7-5 victory over the Brewers. Don't look now but the Phillies are just 7.5 games out of first place in the NL East.

Brown, the NL's reigning Player of the Week, is showing no signs of slowing down. He concluded the week with a .333 batting average and six home runs. Brown finished the month of May with 12 home runs, 25 RBIs and a .303 average — and his 16 home runs lead the NL.

He's also given an otherwise mediocre Philllies team a bit of swagger, with his home-run trots and celebrations at home plate. On a team devoid of a lot of young talent, Brown is exciting to watch.

"I'm just going out, having fun and doing what I always do," Brown said.

Brown wasn't the only one having fun against Milwaukee. Starter Cliff Lee was unhittable before running into trouble in the eighth inning. Lee (7-2) allowed three hits, with 11 strikeouts, and no walks. He left with two outs in the eighth, but was officially on the hook for three runs and seven hits.

Antonio Bastardo picked up the save. Jonathan Papelbon wasn't available.