Galvis pushes Phillies to 4 games over .500

May 1st, 2016

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have not had a view like this in five years.
They beat the Indians on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, 4-3, to improve to 14-10. It is the first time they have been four games over .500 since the end of the 2011 season, when they finished 102-60. Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis led the way with three RBIs.
"If you said that before Spring Training, maybe you say no," Galvis said when asked if the Phillies expected to play this well in April. "But I think we had a good team in Spring Training. We played pretty good."
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. But his biggest at-bat came up just short as he ripped a line drive to right field with runners on second and third and two outs in the ninth. Phillies right fielder Peter Bourjos ran back and made a leaping catch to end the game.
"Thank God for Bourjos catching that ball," Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez said.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Finally, Freddy: Galvis hit a two-run home run in the first inning, then he came through again in the seventh inning. He hit a bloop single on the right-field line to score David Lough from second base to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. Galvis had been 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position this season before that game-winning hit. More >
"I think that's part of the game," Galvis said. "Sometimes you're going to be hot with men in scoring position. Sometimes you're cold. You just have to remember not to lose your confidence. That's something I don't do. I know it's going to come and go. I'm really happy it happened today."
Hunter's debut: When the Indians activated Tommy Hunter from the disabled list on Friday, they expected to be adding an impact, eventually high-leverage bullpen arm. In his first appearance since undergoing offseason surgery, Hunter allowed two soft hits to drop into the outfield that led to the Phillies' go-ahead run.
"I felt pretty good," Hunter said. "You get the first one out of the way, locate the ball a little better here and there and see where that takes us."
Bourjos, Gomez saves: Bourjos broke hard to the right-field wall to make a spectacular game-winning catch in the ninth inning. Bourjos has been struggling offensively, but he proved his worth again defensively. Meanwhile, Gomez is 8-for-8 in save opportunities.
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"I expect to go out there and play good defense," Bourjos said. "I expect to be hitting better than I have. I take a lot of pride in all aspects of the game. Obviously I'm not swinging the bat very well and the defense needs to be there, and it always has been. I think I'd be feeling better if I was hitting .280 right now and playing the defense I am. Hopefully it comes soon."
Bauer's best stuff: Despite lasting only four-plus innings in his first start of the season, Bauer said postgame that he didn't feel he was off at all. After getting into trouble in the fifth and approaching the 80- to 90-pitch range that manager Terry Francona said was about his limit, the Indians' skipper opted to go to the bullpen. But Bauer struck out four, primarily with his curveball, and retired seven of eight batters during a stretch from the second through the fourth innings. All three swinging strikeouts were on the breaking pitch, but he got Ryan Howard looking on a fastball for his final punchout.
"I feel like if I throw the ball that way all year, I'll have a good year," Bauer said. "I thought I hit my spots pretty well tonight, actually. They came out and swung and hit some really good pitches."

QUOTABLE
"Shoot, we're an inch and a half, two inches away from that ball getting over his head. It's the way the game goes. [Marlon Byrd] hits a ball that's five feet short. [Juan] Uribe's was five feet short of being a home run. They get a fourth run on just bloops and broken bats that happened to fall a foot their way." -- Bauer, on the bounces not going the Indians' way over a streak of five one-run games in which they've lost four
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera has reached base safely in a career-high 21 consecutive games. He singled to center field in the first inning to extend the streak. He finished April with a .462 on-base percentage, which is the highest OBP for a Phillies player in April since Aaron Rowand posted a .462 OBP in April 2007.
INSTANT REPLAY
Herrera tried to score from third on a ball that bounced a few feet from home plate in the fifth inning. Indians catcher Roberto Perez picked up the ball and tagged out Herrera to end the frame. The Phillies challenged, but replay confirmed the call. It was the second time a Phillies baserunner made an out in the inning, with both runners being called out between third and home. Bourjos broke for home on a ground ball to third base. He got tagged out trying to get back to third.
Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said he had no problem with Herrera breaking home on the play.

WHAT'S NEXT
Indians:Danny Salazar (2-1, 2.35 ERA) takes the hill for the Indians in the final game of their nine-game road trip on Sunday at 2:35 p.m. ET. The righty had been stellar in his first three starts before not making it out of the fifth in his last outing against the Twins.
Phillies: Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez (3-1, 1.78 ERA) pitches Sunday's series finale at Citizens Bank Park. Velasquez has struck out 33 and walked just six batters in 25 1/3 innings this season.
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