Phillies' walk-off win extends Giants' swoon

PHILADELPHIA -- The Giants' midsummer nightmare continued Wednesday night as Maikel Franco's bases-loaded fielder's choice off Jake Peavy snapped a 12th-inning deadlock and gave the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-4 victory. The National League West-leading Giants fell to 4-13 since the All-Star break, the worst record in the Majors during that span.
"It's hard to believe," Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto said of the team's skid. "We're a good team. All we can do is keep grinding and putting our best stuff out there every time."
Cueto appeared to be in control as he blanked the Phillies on three hits through six innings. He ultimately finished with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. Though Cueto began to falter in the seventh inning, when he surrendered back-to-back homers to Ryan Howard and Cameron Rupp, he seemed more unhappy about Franco's two-out, two-run single that forged a 4-4 tie in the eighth.

"Both [Madison] Bumgarner and Cueto are two of the best pitchers in the league, so you have to go out there and not think too much," said Franco, who has five hits in the first two games of the series. "We've had good success with those guys and I feel pretty good about it."
The Giants jumped ahead, 4-0, as Posey accounted for every San Francisco run. He smacked a two-run single in the first inning before doubling home a run and scoring in the third.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Shutout defeat: The Giants didn't score for the game's final nine innings and were no-hit from the fifth through 10th.
"That's the difference in the game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Their pitching shut us down completely."
The Giants generated a lukewarm scoring opportunity in the 11th against David Hernandez, but Joe Panik lined sharply and directly to third baseman Franco.
Looking ahead to Thursday's series finale, Bochy said, "Now we have to face their guy," referring to Phillies ace Vince Velasquez.
Klein's unexpected debut: The Phillies recalled right-hander Phil Klein from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday because they placed right-hander Aaron Nola on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. Klein allowed eight hits, four runs and one walk and struck out three in five innings, but he kept the Phillies close enough for a comeback. The Phillies optioned Klein back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following the game.
"Got the first guy on a lot of the innings," Klein said. "It's hard to work out of those a lot of the time. Just tried my best to at least get through five and keep 'em in the game the best I could." More »

Peavy to 'pen: Wednesday was a learning experience for the 14-year veteran starter, who watched and learned in his new habitat -- the bullpen, where he was sent Tuesday after the Giants obtained left-handed starter Mike Moore.
Peavy noticed how relievers constantly paced or stretched to keep themselves loose. Peavy realized that staying mentally ready was just as important.
"I was just trying to be ready and be in the moment," he said.
Peavy was self-critical regarding his delivery to Franco, though the ball wasn't hit hard.
"I just didn't make the pitch I wanted to," he said.
Be like Maik: It took awhile, but Franco's game-winning drive up the middle in the 12th was the first walk-off of his career. Franco is 5-for-10 with one home run and seven RBIs in the first two games of this three-game series against the Giants.
"I got my RBI, we win the ballgame, that's what this game is all about," Franco said. More »

QUOTABLE
"I definitely have to buy Maikel some dinner or something." -- Phillies right fielder Aaron Altherr, who cost Franco a hit in the 12th when he didn't touch second base. The walk-off was originally ruled a fielder's choice, then changed to a hit, before it was ultimately determined to be a fielder's choice.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
The Giants questioned a fourth-inning umpiring decision in which Ángel Pagán was called out at first base. Had Pagan been ruled safe, the Giants would have had another run. But a replay review determined the call on the field stands and Pagan was retired for the inning's final out.

San Francisco received a break -- and an out -- on a crew chief review of Altherr's infield single in the eighth inning. Upon further examination, Altherr was declared out, and the call on the field was overturned.

The Phillies challenged Hunter Pence's slide into second base in the 11th inning, which broke up a potential double play. After a short review, the call on the field was confirmed. Pence's slide was legal.

Another crew chief review in the 11th inning overturned a ruling that held that Freddy Galvis was safe at first base. The out on Galvis resulted in an inning-ending double play for the Giants.

WHAT'S NEXT
Giants: Left-hander Matt Moore, a non-waiver Trade Deadline acquisition from Tampa Bay, will confront the Phillies in a 10:05 a.m. PT start Wednesday. This will be Moore's first Major League start for any team besides the Rays.
Phillies: Right-hander Velasquez pitches in the 1:05 p.m. ET series finale Wednesday against the Giants. The Phillies and Rangers discussed a potential trade for Velasquez before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, but the deal never got close.
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