Phillies break out, collect 21 XBHs in series
Franco, Howard homer in Sunday's victory to complete sweep over Cubs
CHICAGO -- If the Phillies trade Cole Hamels before Friday's 4 p.m. non-waiver Trade Deadline, they would love to get at least one power hitter in return.
The Phils entered this weekend's three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field ranked 26th in baseball with just 242 extra-base hits. But they had 21 in the series against Chicago, including a season-high eight Saturday and again Sunday in an 11-5 victory.
They were the most extra-base hits in a three-game stretch for the Phillies since June 14-16, 2001, when they also had 21. The power surge helped Philadelphia to its first road series sweep since July 7-10, 2014, in Milwaukee.
"We've seen our offense the whole year," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "But the reason you play the young guys ... Freddy [Galvis], and [Cesar] Hernandez and [Maikel] Franco, all these guys in the game. [Domonic] Brown is starting to come around, [Cody] Asche is starting to come around, [Odubel] Herrera looks like he's learned a lot. You kind of hope it comes around in this manner to where you're putting some runs on the board and consistent at-bats. And we're getting more consistent at-bats from these guys, and I think that's why we're scoring more runs."
Ryan Howard and Franco homered Sunday. Herrera, Asche and Brown tripled. Franco, Brown and Cameron Rupp doubled.
Video: PHI@CHC: Franco blasts a two-run homer to left field
Six Phillies had multihit games, including Brown, who went 3-for-4.
Brown needs to step up if he wants to keep playing. He is batting .333 (15-for-45) with two doubles, one triple, five RBIs and a .770 OPS in his past 14 games. But the Phillies need to see more power from Brown. Sunday was a start.
"Just out there really just grinding, really," Brown said. "I'm just doing whatever I can do for the team. Having a lot of fun, though, for sure. I just play baseball, man.
"I know what I can do on the field. It ain't nothing with confidence or anything like that. I just play. It's just a matter of time before stuff starts falling. It's baseball."