The Philadelphia Phillies won their fifth straight game on Wednesday night, defeating the Marlins 7-4. Their record improves to 10-9.
On The Mound
- Vince Velasquez turned in another solid start, allowing just three runs over 6.1 innings. Velasquez gave up six hits and two walks.
- Velasquez gave up a pair of early runs in the first and third innings, but then settled in for three scoreless innings before being charged with a run in the seventh.
- Joely Rodriguez came on to get the final two outs of the seventh, stranding a runner on second and retiring both batters he faced.
- Joaquin Benoit pitched a scoreless eighth.
- Hector Neris finished off the game in the ninth, but did give up a run on two hits.
At The Plate
- The offense put up seven runs on 10 hits.
- Maikel Franco gave the team a jolt with a grand slam in the third inning, the second slam of the year for Franco.
- Franco, fresh after two days off, went 3-4 on the night with two singles.
- Freddy Galvis tacked on a run with a solo shot in the sixth.
- Michael Saunders hit his first homer as a Phillie, a two-run shot in the eighth.
- Cesar Hernandez went 0-4 at the top of the order.
- Aaron Altherr went 1-3 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to eight games.
- Odubel Herrera went 1-4 with a single.
- Tommy Joseph went 1-4 with a single.
- Cameron Rupp turned in an 0-4 effort.
Final Thoughts
Maikel Franco certainly seemed to benefit from the team’s extra day off. The third baseman had been struggling most of the season, but has performed very well over the last week, providing key hits in three of the team’s wins.
It was also another encouraging start from Vince Velasquez, who was able to pitch into the seventh inning and earn his first win of the year.
The Phils are on a roll right now. They’ve won five straight, and have now pulled in front of the Marlins for second place in the N.L. East.
