(My Sportsbook) - When a young pitcher gets started in the majors it's always beneficial if he can receive help off the field from a veteran teammate.

Brett Myers is in his second big league season, and because of the high expectations the Philadelphia Phillies have for him, it's important that the 22-year-old righthander get help not just from pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, but also from a colleague on the pitching staff.

Myers has done just that and has been receiving advice from 28-year-old righty Kevin Millwood, who was an 18-game winner in 2002.

After suffering two losses, Myers got his first win of 2003 Wednesday night, throwing six-plus innings, allowing three hits and a run with three walks and nine strikeouts, as the Phillies beat Colorado 6-4. The Phillies completed the three-game sweep with a 9-1 win today.

"I'm working hard to try and become the pitcher everybody says I'm supposed to be," said Myers. "I can only take one start at a time and prepare for each start and try to get a win every time."

Myers, who made his major league debut on July 24, 2002, is currently the No. 4 man in Philadelphia's rotation, behind Millwood, Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla. Myers has been in the back pocket of Millwood, picking his brain for ideas on how to throw to some of the tougher hitters in the league and the two have received accolades from manager Larry Bowa.

"He's helping me out a lot," Myers said of Millwood. "He's there when I have a question. We go over the hitters and he tells me what he thought and what he saw the day before, if he does pitch before me. It really helps you out a lot to have a guy who's been around and seen the league. I just try to pitch to my game plan and he just tries to give me hints or helps me to where I can succeed."

WHO'S HOT

Chase Utley, who played second base on Thursday after Placido Polanco was put on the disabled list, broke out in a big way. In just his second major league game, Utley went 2-for-4 with his first career hits in the majors. Utley, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre last night, belted a grand slam in the third inning and added a double in the eighth.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-5 on Thursday and has reached base safely in 18 straight games.

WHO'S NOT

First baseman Jim Thome went 0-for-3 on Thursday and is only 1-for-18 lifetime against the Rockies.

COMING UP

The Phillies will host the San Francisco Giants for three games this weekend before going to the west coast for a 10-game trip. Philadelphia will play four games against the Dodgers, three versus the Padres and three against the Diamondbacks.