CLEARWATER, Fla. – Throughout spring training, Pete Mackanin has emphasized pitching and defense.
So, of course, the Phillies are bruising baseballs in a way no one thought they would.
“We’re swinging well and it’s good to see,” Mackanin said after the Phils put 15 hits and 15 runs on the scoreboard against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. “We’re hitting better than expected.”
The new slugger and the old slugger led the Phillies back from five runs down in a 15-12 win over the Pirates.
Maikel Franco hit a skyrocket to left that got caught up in the wind and sailed out of the park for his majors-best seventh spring home run.
Ryan Howard continued to swing the bat well with a pair of singles and a mammoth grand slam to dead center. The slam cleared the batter’s eye and was last seen headed for an alligator pond beyond the wall.
“That was crushed,” Mackanin said. “It was all him. It was not wind-blown.”
MLB
Howard also homered and doubled – both against a left-handed pitcher -- in Thursday’s game. He is seeing the ball well. That much became clear on his first hit of Friday’s game. He waited nicely on a breaking ball and lined it to left field to break a shift. It was a good piece of hitting.
Franco is seeing the ball well, too. He is hitting .324 on the spring. But he still has work to do. After homering on a high fastball in the fourth inning, he struck out in the fifth with the bases loaded. Right-hander Trey Haley got him with a pair of sliders. As Franco continues to turn around fastballs, he’s going to see more breaking balls away. He was actually happy he saw those pitches Friday.
“When I see that, I need to make an adjustment because it’s going to happen in the season, so I have to be ready for that,” Franco said.
Peter Bourjos and Cameron Rupp also homered for the Phillies, who have an NL-best 28 to go with 117 runs, second-most in the league.
Positive news for Hernandez
Reliever David Hernandez struck out two in a scoreless inning of work in a minor-league game. His fastball was 92-94 on the radar gun. Hernandez was slowed early in camp by a sore right triceps. He believes he will be ready for the season opener.
“My arm is definitely getting better,” he said. “I have no discomfort when I’m pitching, just a little stiffness when I’m cooling down. I have no trouble getting loose and staying loose and that’s a good sign. I’m on target.”
Andres Blanco, who will be the Phillies’ emergency catcher, caught Hernandez’ inning of work.
Other pitching news
Adam Morgan continued his strong bid to win the final spot in the rotation with five innings of walk-free ball at the minor-league complex.
Meanwhile in the big-league game, Charlie Morton was tagged for five runs in four innings. He gave up a double and a pair of homers and walked three.
Transactions
The Phillies sent catching prospects Andrew Knapp and Jorge Alfaro to minor-league camp. Knapp is expected to open at Triple A and Alfaro at Double A. (see full story)
“Knapp is a good-looking hitter,” Mackanin said. “With a little polish he might be ready later this year.”
Mackanin raved about Alfaro’s arm, calling it “the best I’ve seen, maybe ever.”
Up next
Jeremy Hellickson pitches against the Blue Jays in Dunedin on Saturday. Gavin Floyd will start for the Jays.