Phillies' offense leads way in win over D-backs
PHILADELPHIA -- Before Friday, the Phillies didn't have a three-game win streak in 2015. Now the streak is four.
The Phillies, who improved their record to 15-23 with the win, defeated the D-backs 7-5 in an offensive affair Saturday that saw a combined 23 hits and 11 pitchers used.
"Well, I like what I've seen," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said about the team playing better offensively, including tying a season-high seven runs Saturday. "It's coming from different guys. It's more consistent up and down the lineup. I don't know. Warmer weather, having some at-bats under the belt, whatever it might be. The timing seems to be good right now."
Video: ARI@PHI: Sizemore lines four hits in win vs. D-backs
Jerome Williams went five innings of two-run ball for the Phillies, giving up seven hits and striking out four in a winning effort.
Archie Bradley took the loss for the D-backs in his return from the DL, only lasting two-plus innings and allowing four runs on five hits and three walks.
"It kind of snowballed on me," Bradley said of the three-run Phillies third. "I couldn't get it back. Up here, you have to make adjustments quicker than that. It kind of unraveled and I couldn't get it back."
Jonathan Papelbon closed the game out and is now nine-for-nine in save opportunities this season.
Video: ARI@PHI: Papelbon induces groundout for the save
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Slogging and slugging: Despite the wet environment, the Phillies bats awoke with 13 hits, six of which were for extra-bases. Jeff Francoeur started the offense off for the Phillies in the second inning with a home run over the left-field wall and doubles followed from Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, pinch-hitter Andres Blanco, Grady Sizemore, who finished with his first four-hit game since August 2008, and Chase Utley, who recorded his second two-hit game of the season. More >
Video: ARI@PHI: Francoeur rips a solo homer to left-center
Rough go for Bradley: Bradley didn't show any ill effects from getting hit in the face a little more than two weeks ago, but he also did not appear to have his good stuff. It was the first poor start for the rookie this season. More >
Video: ARI@PHI: Bradley strikes out Howard in his return
Coming back out: Though he was forced to wait about an hour and a half between throwing the third and fourth innings, Williams came back out and threw two innings post rain delay. He swiftly sat down the first two hitters he saw in the fourth innings before two singles and an error by Utley charged Williams with an unearned run.
"No hesitation at all," Williams said about coming back out. "My arm is durable enough to go out there and pitch, even with the delay. I just wanted to go back out there and help the guys out."
Video: ARI@PHI: Williams strikes out Trumbo swinging
Goldy gone: Paul Goldschmidt hit his 10th homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth, to pull the D-backs to within 4-3. Goldschmidt has 16 RBIs in his last 17 games.
QUOTABLE
"He has a resilient arm. He didn't throw a lot of pitches. He was able to stay warm." -- Sandberg, on his decision to send Williams back out to pitch, despite a 1 hour, 17 minute rain delay
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
D-backs third baseman Yasmany Tomas hit his first Major League home run in the eighth inning. Tomas, who was signed to a six-year $68.5 million contract after defecting from Cuba, hit a 3-1 fastball the opposite way to right field off Ken Giles. More >
Video: ARI@PHI: Tomas drills his first Major League home run
It was the first homer Giles had allowed since his big league debut on June 12, 2014. Giles had faced 237 consecutive batters without allowing a home run.
RAIN DELAY
A rain delay halted this game in the bottom of the third inning. The Phillies had scored two runs off of three hits and two walks and had the bases loaded with no outs before the delay, which began at 8:10 p.m. The delay lasted for one hour and 17 minutes before the game resumed at 9:27 p.m..
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: Josh Collmenter will get the start for the D-backs on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET/10:35 a.m. MST as he tries to rebound from a rough start his last time out. Collmenter was unable to get out of the second inning against the Nationals, allowing nine runs on eight hits.
Phillies: Right-hander Sean O'Sullivan makes his fourth start for the Phillies, and second since returning from the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his left knee. O'Sullivan is looking for his first big league win since May 12, 2011. He is 0-9 in 18 appearances since.
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