Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — It's been so long since the Philadelphia Phillies won three in a row that manager Ryne Sandberg wasn't aware of the small feat.
Pinch-hitter Jeff Francoeur delivered a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to help the Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 Friday night for their first streak over two games since winning four straight last Aug. 24-27.
"I didn't realize that," Sandberg said. "We can build off it and go for four. It was a nice, team win."
Freddy Galvis hit a tying, two-run single before Francoeur came through. Elvis Araujo (1-0) retired the only batter he faced in relief to earn his first major league win and Luis Garcia tossed two scoreless innings for his first career save.
After Arizona took a 3-1 lead in the seventh, the Phillies rallied in the bottom half. Carlos Ruiz and Cesar Hernandez hit consecutive singles off Daniel Hudson to start the inning. Oliver Perez entered and threw a wild pitch to advance the runners.
Perez struck out Ben Revere, but Galvis hit a single to left-center to score two runs. Galvis advanced to second on a throw to the plate and went to third on center fielder A.J. Pollock's throwing error.
"I just try to take a good pitch to hit and make a good swing," said Galvis, who is batting .355. "That's my natural spot right there, left-handers. I see it a little better right now."
Enrique Burgos replaced Perez and Francoeur hit a single down the left-field line. He was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
Phillies starter Chad Billingsley gave up two runs and seven hits in six-plus innings.
Billingsley hasn't won since 2013. He missed nearly two full years because of two elbow operations.
"A step in the right direction," Billingsley said. "I'm not where I want to be. I've got room to improve."
Arizona's Chase Anderson allowed one run and three hits in 5 1-3 innings.
"A nice effort again," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said about Anderson. "He battled. He gives us a chance to win every time out. He mixes his pitches well, has a very good change and he just pitches."
The Diamondbacks scored three runs with two outs in the seventh to take a 3-1 lead. The Phillies went ahead 1-0 on Ryan Howard's RBI double in the sixth.
Pollock hit an RBI single off Justin De Fratus and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run double to deep center.
The Phillies had runners on second and third with no outs in the sixth after Howard's double. But Anderson struck out Maikel Franco. Andrew Chafin entered and retired Chase Utley on a shallow fly and Odubel Herrera on a bouncer to the mound.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
The Phillies won a challenge after plate umpire Todd Tichenor initially ruled Galvis wasn't hit with a close pitch. A video review showed the ball nicked his leg.
DROPPING UTLEY
Utley was dropped from third to sixth in the lineup. He went 1 for 3, raising his average to .124. It was the first time Utley batted lower than fourth since April 21, 2006, and first time he hit lower than fifth since June 30, 2005.
FRANCO'S HERE
The Phillies promoted 3B Franco, a top prospect, from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and inserted him into the No. 5 spot in the batting order behind Howard. Franco was 0 for 4. RHP Dustin McGowan was sent to Lehigh Valley to make space on the roster. Cody Asche, the opening day 3B, is learning to play left field in the minors and could be called up late next week.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: 3B Yasmany Tomas was scratched from the lineup because he was sick. 2B Aaron Hill also is battling an illness.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley will make his first start since suffering a right sinus fracture on a ball struck by Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez on April 28. The rookie is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts.
Phillies: RHP Jerome Williams (2-3, 5.21 ERA) tries to rebound from consecutive poor starts. Williams has allowed 10 earned runs in 10 innings in losses to the Braves and Mets. He's 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA vs. Arizona.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
