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 He sure helped the last-place Philadelphia Phillies enjoy some fun
this weekend following a first half that was anything but that.
On Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, Francoeur delivered a two-run,
walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to flip a 7-6
deficit into an 8-7 win over the Miami Marlins.
"It's the one great thing about the National League -- you can go
out there and pinch hit." Francoeur said after entering the game in
the seventh inning as part of a double switch. "That's fun -- when
you are a bench player in the National League, you know you will get
some ABs and you will get opportunities like that. So it was a fun
weekend, for sure, and a good sweep."
The Marlins (38-54) overcame a 5-2 hole in the third inning and a
6-5 deficit in the eighth, but the Phillies (32-62), who lost a
franchise-record 62 games in the first half, got the last laugh,
completing just their second sweep of the season and third streak of
three or more consecutive wins.
"Three wins," Philadelphia interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "I'm
happy with the way the players are going about it. Everybody is
upbeat and everybody looks like they are happy to be back after the
break. They look refreshed."
Francoeur punctuated the sweep on Sunday and kick-started it Friday
with a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth inning of a 6-3
victory.
"I know everybody in the clubhouse looks up to him," Mackanin said.
"He has a lot of energy and he's great in the clubhouse. He plays
the game hard, he does everything the right way -- he's made a few
mistakes here and there, but because of his demeanor and the way he
handles himself, he just looks like he loves playing."
Unlike Philadelphia, Miami has hit a wall to begin the second-half
stretch. But despite the Marlins losing eight of their last 11
games, the most recent in excruciating fashion, manager Dan Jennings
was pleased Sunday.
"I was glad to see them after losing the first two, come back and
fight the way they did and kept answering the bell," Jennings said.
"Today we came out and showed heart and continued to battle and
battle back. I think the pride factor kicks in."
Trailing 6-5 in the eighth and facing setup man Ken Giles, Miami
tied the game on a sacrifice fly by catcher Jeff Mathis after center
fielder Cole Gillespie led off with a double followed by a single
from pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich.
Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who was the next batter after Mathis,
flared a two-strike, two-out single to plate the go-ahead run.
Prior to that, the Marlins erased a 5-2 deficit in just one inning
against Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels.
But in the end, closer A.J. Ramos (0-2), who entered with a 1.11
ERA, blew the save and Miami's hopes of leaving Philadelphia with a
win.
Phillies reliever Hector Neris (1-0) got the victory.
"Unfortunately that's baseball," Jennings said. "We didn't do the
job to finish it off but (Ramos) has been nails all year and I hope
we get the chance (Monday) to run him right back out there and let
him save a game."
Both starters could be traded to contenders by the July 31 deadline,
but neither was impressive Sunday, partly because of stifling
93-degree heat.
Marlins right-hander Dan Haren was knocked around in the second
inning but survived six innings of five-run ball. It marked just the
second time this season Haren surrendered five or more runs in a
start.
"It's one of the hottest I've ever played in," Haren said. "It was
unhealthy out there."
The 13-year veteran said the temperature felt like 106 degrees on
the field.
"Luckily, I was able to string together a few zeroes, but it was
nasty," Haren said. "For the umpires, the catchers, it's almost
dangerous. It was just hard to breathe sometimes."
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Hamels had no luck, either, as he followed up one of his worst
career starts with another clunker, lasting just three innings and
allowing five runs on eight hits.
"I've pitched in a lot of hot games," Hamels said. "That's just kind
of the nature of what summer does. You have to be able to pitch
through no matter what the elements are and what the forecast is.
Their team had to face the same elements. I just wasn't able to
locate pitches early."
Over an eight-start stretch from May 8 to June 14, Hamels allowed 14
earned runs in 57 1/3 innings (2.20 ERA). In his last two starts,
he's allowed 14 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings (19.91 ERA).
"He's allowed to have a couple bad starts," Mackanin said. "We'll
see the Cole Hamels we've seen before. He had a couple bad starts."
After Miami produced a pair of runs in the top of the second inning
on three base hits and a sacrifice bunt, Philadelphia struck for
five runs in the bottom half on five hits, including two long homers
by first baseman Ryan Howard and shortstop Freddy Galvis.
But back came the Marlins, who chased Hamels with three more runs
the very next inning to erase the deficit.
Left fielder Christian Yelich, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and
Gillespie all delivered RBI hits to knot the score and end Hamels'
outing.
"Very tough loss, but the guys battled so hard," Haren said. "I know
it's heartbreaking at the end, but (Ramos has) been one of the best
relievers in baseball this year. We've just got to pick ourselves
up. Guys should be proud the way they played."
With the game deadlocked at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh,
Francoeur singled and scored the go-ahead run when second baseman
Cesar Hernandez doubled him home.
Then, Francoeur did it again, this time hitting the ball into the
seats for the game-winner.
"We probably have the best record in baseball in the second half,"
Francoeur said. "It was good to see everyone hit this weekend. Our
pitching did well for the most part. Anytime you win a series and
anytime you sweep, it's nice."
NOTES: Marlins 2B Miguel Rojas was lifted for a pinch runner in the
top of the fifth inning because of stomach nausea. Rojas, who was
replaced by 2B Donovan Solano, is considered day to day. ... Marlins
C J.T. Realmuto received the day off as backup C Jeff Mathis started
in his place. Realmuto entered Sunday hitting .299 over his last 28
games. ... Phillies OF Cody Asche was rested in favor of OF Odubel
Herrera. OF Ben Revere shifted to left field, while Herrera started
in center field. ... The Marlins next travel to Arizona to play the
Diamondbacks in a three-game series starting Monday. Here are
Miami's probable starting pitchers in order: RHP David Phelps (4-5,
3.86 ERA), RHP Mat Latos (3-6, 4.90 ERA), RHP Jose Fernandez (2-0,
2.37 ERA). ... The Phillies next welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to
Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series starting Monday. Here are
Philadelphia's probable starting pitchers in order: RHP David
Buchanan (0-5, 7.58 ERA), RHP Aaron Nola (0-0, 0.00), LHP Adam
Morgan (1-2, 3.91 ERA).
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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