Powerfully, Franco dealing with lineup changes
PHILADELPHIA » Maikel Franco had three hits, with four RBIs, a home run and a triple off the center field fence in a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins Thursday.
What he did not have was a guarantee that he would start in the Phillies’ next game.
“There’s some things,” Gabe Kapler said, when asked that question, “that we’ll think about.”
The topic was relevant because Franco did not start Tuesday in New York. He did play Wednesday, and was the difference Thursday. But Kapler, who has promised to present a lineup based on that day’s situation and to make sure that every Phillie will receive playing time, will not stray from that policy.
Franco would seem to be critical to any organizational rebuilding plan. Thus, the question: Can he be the player he can be without playing every day?
“I don’t think about it that way,” Franco said. “I just try to think that whatever day I am in the lineup, I just try to do my job. I just try to do everything I can do to help my team. If I’m playing, or if I am not in the lineup the next game, then I will just do everything I can to do better.”
With the 3-for-4 outburst Thursday, Franco raised his average to .267. He has hit a home run in four consecutive home games, dating to last season.
“I saw him battle,” Kapler said. “He got down in a number of counts and was able to battle back and get two monster hits for us. The line-drive trajectory on his ball has been consistent from spring training to this point. So he hasn’t always had much to show for it. But I can tell you, the feeling of being in the batter’s box and hitting balls on the nose gives you confidence in your next atbat. And eventually, that confidence leads to results. It leads to balls falling on outfield grass. And it leads to balls falling into the gaps and into the seats, like it did for Frankie today.
“So I am really happy for him.”
*** Nick Pivetta was pulled with two outs in the sixth after striking out nine, walking none, and still throwing a shutout. The 44,488 in Citizens Bank Park booed Kapler as he walked to the mound … then booed him louder as he returned to the dugout.
Chances are their ire was left over from the Phils’ opener in Atlanta, when Aaron Nola was pulled while throwing a shutout. The difference: Nola had thrown 64 pitches. Pivetta was up to 97. Also, left-handed-hitting Justin Bour was due up, and Kapler trusted one of baseball’s most enduring metrics, calling for left-handed Adam Morgan.
With one on, Morgan fanned Bour to end the inning.
“Adam is a tremendous guy to bring out of the bullpen,” Pivetta said. “He’s a lefty. Bour is a good hitter. I am at 97 pitches. It’s the right call. Awesome. He struck him out on three pitches. On to the next one.”
*** With Pivetta and Morgan, Luis Garcia and Hector Neris combined to help the Phillies strike out 12 Marlins while not allowing a walk. It was their best performance since 2015, when 13 Dodgers fanned without a base on balls.
“Nick demonstrated a wipeout slider,” Kapler said. “At times, he attacked with his curveball. Other times, he attacked with his fastball. But everything was in or around the zone, keeping hitters off balance.”
As he did recently in New York, Kapler gushed about Jorge Alfaro’s ability to frame pitches.
“I think it starts in large part with Alfie behind the plate,” the manager said. “He’s made some miraculous improvements keeping balls in the zone. His receiving has been really, really powerful and really moved the needle for us.”
*** Cesar Hernandez walked three times and had a hit, personifying Kapler’s ideal plan of working counts and getting on base.
“That’s kind of the responsibility that I have with the team,” Hernandez said. “As a leadoff hitter, you have to see pitches and get on base. And I’m glad that it worked out today.”