PHILADELPHIA -- Cristopher Sánchez’s contributions Wednesday will be impossible to quantify outside the six innings he pitched in a 7-5 victory over the Reds.

The Phillies recalled Sánchez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make a spot start, his first in the big leagues since July 15. In the past, they summoned Sánchez because of an injury or because they needed a second starter for a doubleheader. But Philadelphia handed the ball to him Wednesday because the club  wanted to give everybody else in its rotation an extra day to rest to gear up for the final weeks of the season.

“We’re in the dog days now,” Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said. “We’ve been leaning on them quite a bit.”

Sánchez allowed six hits and three runs, including two on solo home runs. He struck out seven.

“My goal was to give them length,” Sánchez said through the team’s interpreter.

Maybe the extra day of rest in late August will help a starter or two down the stretch and into the postseason. The Phillies improved to 69-55 to take a two-game lead over the Padres for the second NL Wild Card and a 3 1/2-game lead over the Brewers, who are chasing the final spot.

“I definitely value that a lot,” Sánchez said of the opportunity to pitch in a pennant race. “It means a lot to me. I just want to help the team. That’s what makes it so special.”

Thomson said he trusted Sánchez because he had pitched well for them this season. Sánchez is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 11 appearances, including three starts.

Sánchez started the season with the Phillies, but he got optioned on May 2 because they wanted to keep him stretched out as a starter. He returned May 8 to start Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Mets and was sent down the next day. He returned on June 1 to provide length in the bullpen, but he got optioned again June 12. Sánchez returned July 5 when Ranger Suárez was placed on the 15-day injured list with lower back spasms. The Phils used Nick Nelson as an opener five days later in St. Louis, but they had Sánchez pitch three innings. He got optioned on July 15.

“It can be kind of tough bouncing around, up and down, traveling, doing all that stuff,” Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm said. “But he comes up and does a great job. He gives us good innings, just like he did tonight. He gets us deep in the game. He gives the bullpen a little rest. He gives the starters a little rest.”

Sánchez showed up inspired. He wore a Barry Sanders jersey to the ballpark. He spoke afterward wearing a T-shirt with a photo of NBA legend Bill Russell.

“They are winners,” Sánchez said. “I admire them.”