CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pete Mackanin wanted to be happier about Friday's 12-11 Phillies win than he was, but the fact that a walk-off, three-run homer from non-roster invitee Cedric Hunter was even necessary was frustrating for the manager. The Phils' relief pitching and defense let them down in the final two innings and the Braves scored eight runs to force a bottom of the ninth.
Several hours earlier, Maikel Franco hit a three-run homer of his own, his second longball in as many days. Exactly how he, or any hitter for that matter, would like to start his spring.
After going 1 for 2 with a solo homer and a bases-loaded walk in Thursday's win over the Yankees, Franco went 2 for 3 Friday with a booming three-run home run to left and an RBI single.
Friday's homer capped a seven-run, second-inning rally for the Phillies in which all seven scored with two outs.
Mackanin is glad to see Franco swinging so well given the wrist injury he suffered late last season and the previous spring struggles he's had. "Terrible" was the word Mackanin used Friday to describe Franco's last couple camps, and said the difference now is all about plate discipline.
"That's what I've been working for — come in early, do my program, do my routine in the batting cage, be prepared for the game," Franco said. "Now it's happening and now I'm happy.
"Basically for me, I've gotten focused, seeing the ball pretty good and just trying to go out there and enjoy the game and win."
MLB
Franco's success last season has put him in a way different spot at this spring training. As the best player on the team, he's almost been thrust into a leadership role despite being just 23 years old.
"I'm just trying to be, every single day, a good teammate and good person to everybody," he said. "Try to build good relationships with everybody here. That's part of Maikel Franco. That's what I want to keep doing every single day here and having good communication with everybody."
The game
Yikes. The Phillies led 9-3 entering the eighth inning, but Luis Garcia allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in the eighth, and Hector Neris gave up four runs (two earned) in the ninth as the Braves took an 11-9 lead. Darnell Sweeney had two errors in the game at second base, one fielding and one trying to finish off a double play started by J.P. Crawford.
Hunter's homer came with two outs and salvaged an afternoon that began with excitement and appeared destined for frustration.
"His homer was big for us," Mackanin joked.
Hellickson impresses
Jeremy Hellickson made his second spring start and settled in after allowing back-to-back doubles to the first two hitters, striking out five in two innings of work. He wasn't enthused about his fastball command but felt good about his curveball and changeup, which he says he plans to use more this season than he did last.
Bailey debuts
Andrew Bailey pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Hellickson and remarked afterward that he feels "leaps and bounds ahead of" where he was at this time last year, when he was still coming back from shoulder surgery (see story).
Altherr hurt
Rightfielder Aaron Altherr left after the top of the first inning with soreness in his left wrist. Altherr dove in an attempt to catch Ender Inciarte's soft liner to start the game but missed it. He played the rest of the inning but wanted to get it checked out after it swelled.
"I'm anxious to see what happened," Mackanin said. "I can't say it looked real bad, but we'll see."
Sickness spreading
"The Hendu Flu," as Mackanin termed it, has spread throughout the Phillies' clubhouse. It began with Steve Henderson and was caught by Mike Schmidt, Charlie Manuel, Tyler Goeddel, Nick Williams and now Ryan Howard.
Howard left after striking out in each of his first two at-bats, which began and ended the second inning. He was out of sorts walking into the clubhouse and said he was having trouble seeing.
Saturday's pitchers
Aaron Nola will start for the Phillies in Dunedin against Blue Jays right-hander Drew Hutchison.
On Sunday, Charlie Morton makes his first start of the spring against the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka.