Bullpen stars as Phillies down Tigers 3-2 in 15 innings at Comerica Park

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Rhys Hoskins delivered the game-winning hit in 15th inning

The Philadelphia Phillies (53-48) edged out the host Detroit Tigers (30-66) by a 3-2 score in 15 often frustrating innings on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

The victory, which came in a game that began nearly 40 minutes late due to rain and ended six innings late due to the failure of both offenses to produce with runners in scoring position, was the Phillies fourth in five games. It also moves them to five games over the .500 mark for the first time since July 2.

The Phillies had a couple of chances to put some distance between themselves and Detroit in regulation play, the first coming in the very first inning when Rhys Hoskins singled and Bryce Harper doubled with one out. Both would end up stranded.

In the home 1st inning, rookie Tigers second baseman Harold Castro reached on an error by Scott Kingery, who continues to be played out of position by the Phillies on a nightly basis, this time at shortstop. Nola than hit Miguel Cabrera with a pitch. Castro moved to third on a ground out, and then raced home to score the game’s first run when Nola bounced a wild pitch in the dirt that J.T. Realmuto couldn’t block.

In the top of the 2nd, the Phillies went on top via an unlikely source. Roman Quinn powered up, blasting his first home run of the season out deep to left field, a two-run shot to put the Phillies up by a 2-1 score.

Phillies blast four homers for second straight night to rally past Mets

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Maikel Franco homers for the second consecutive game

The Philadelphia Phillies (41-38) defeated the visiting New York Mets (37-43) by a 7-5 score on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

It was a second consecutive offensive explosion that carried the Phillies, with the club powering at least four home runs on successive nights for the first time in over a decade.

This time it was no blowout. The Phillies fell behind early. But rather than tuck their tails between their legs and accept defeat, as seemed to happen too often during their recent losing spell, the team showed renewed heart in fighting all the way back.

It was not at all a good night for Phillies starting pitcher Jake Arrieta. He never got it together while surrendering four earned runs over the first three frames to put the team into an early 4-1 hole.

The Mets started the game with three consecutive singles which led to their scratching out two runs in the top of the 1st inning. Solo home runs by Amed Rosario in the top of the 2nd and Dominic Smith in the top of the 3rd off-set a solo homer by Scott Kingery to leadoff the home 1st inning.

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A solo home run off the bat of Rhys Hoskins, his 18th of the season, pulled the Phillies within 4-2 in the bottom of the 4th inning. In the top of the 6th, Jeff McNeil‘s RBI single countered that to push the Mets lead to 5-2.

Would Phillies be better with Kingery-Franco than Hernandez-Kingery at 2nd and 3rd?

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Maikel Franco should be playing third base every day

Things have been going pretty badly for the Philadelphia Phillies over the last three weeks. And it now appears that one former starting position player, third baseman Maikel Franco, may be in the proccess of being given up on by the manager.

Phillies skipper Gabe Kapler had two lineup cards to fill out on Wednesday as his club was set to play a day-night doubleheader against the Washington Nationals. In the first, Kapler named Scott Kingery as the starting third baseman. In the lineup announced for the nightcap, newcomer Brad Miller is scheduled to man the hot corner.

When Kapler needed bats off the bench to pinch-hit in that opening 6-2 defeat at the hands of the host Nationals, he went to Miller and the repeatedly ineffective Andrew Knapp.

Franco certainly hasn’t helped his case with the bat this season. the 26-year-old hasn’t produced a multi-hit game since May 13, and has just two home runs since April 26. However, Franco is also the third-best defensive third baseman in the National League, eighth-best in baseball, so far this season according to Fangraphs.

A number of veteran free agent infielders could help the Phillies improve their depth

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Veteran Jose Iglesias could help the Phillies infield depth

Most of the talk surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies and the pursuit of further free agent help rightfully surrounds the big names of outfielder Bryce Harper and infielder Manny Machado.

However, the club could still use a more veteran option as a reserve infielder. That would cease to be the case if Machado is signed and both Hernandez and Franco remain with the team, but that scenario seems like a long-shot at best.

As things stand today the Phillies starting infield would be made up of first baseman Rhys Hoskins, second baseman Cesar Hernandez, shortstop Jean Segura, and third baseman Maikel Franco.

Manager Gabe Kapler has also announced that Franco would be directly challenged in spring training by Scott Kingery, who remains blocked at his natural position by the presence of Hernandez, who is in the final year of his contract.

Only two other infield options are currently on the Phillies 40-man roster. One of those is 21-year old Arquimedes Gamboa, who is not likely to see big-league action this season, and who isn’t much of a prospect in any event. The other is Mitch Walding, a 26-year-old corner infielder who has 19 big-league plate appearances to his name.

The club has a handful of players with infield experience who are signed and participating at spring training as non-roster invitees: Malquin Canelo, Phil Gosselin, Austin Listi, Gift Ngoepe, Gregorio Petit, Austin Romine, and Sean Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was probably the most attractive of those options, the one with the best chance to actually help the Phillies at the big-league level. The 33-year-old has 11-years of experience in Major League Baseball and has played every position on the diamond except catcher and pitcher.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez has now reportedly suffered a torn right meniscus (knee tendon) and may require surgery. Depending on the severity and the pace of his recovery it could mean that he won’t be able to play until later in the summer.

There do remain some veteran free agent options should the Phillies decide to look outside of the organization for infield bench help. One of those is former two-time NL All-Star Josh Harrison, who has started in MLB at both second base and third base, and who has also filled in at shortstop and the outfield. I wrote about him here at Phillies Nation almost exactly one month ago.

One Way or Another, Longo Key to Rays Recovery

The Tampa Bay Rays are an MLB small market team competing in a tough division, but they have talent and the financial positioning to compete quickly.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Tampa Bay Rays were one of the best success stories in all of Major League Baseball.
A small market ‘David’ with a horrible home ballpark, the Rays nonetheless parlayed astute player development and smart trades into a consistent contender in a division of ‘Goliath’ opponents.

For a half-dozen years from 2008-2013 the Rays were a playoff contender. The won the AL East Division crown in both 2008 and 2010.

The Rays also finished second in 2011 and 2013, and reached the postseason four times in that stretch. This included a 2008 World Series appearance.

The club faded to fourth place in both 2014 and 2015, but did not collapse. In those two seasons they finished a combined 10 games below the .500 mark. The collapse finally came this year with their first last place finish in nearly a decade.

One of the biggest keys when the Rays were winning was third baseman Evan Longoria.

During that 2008 AL pennant-winning campaign, Longoria won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He slammed 27 homers, drive in 85 runs, and made the AL All-Star team.