Skip to content
Phillies
Link copied to clipboard

Maikel Franco sprains ankle but plans to play Friday

Maikel Franco left the seventh inning of Wednesday’s game against the Tigers with a sprained right ankle that is believed to be “mild.”

DETROIT - Maikel Franco said he would play Friday after he left the 8-5 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday with a sprained right ankle. The third baseman limped off the field in the seventh inning after sliding into second base.

Manager Pete Mackanin said the Phillies would be cautious and evaluate Franco before the team opens a three-game series Friday in Chicago against the Cubs.

"Just a little bit sore in my ankle," said Franco, who planned to ice it during the team's flight to Chicago on Wednesday night. "Everything is fine. I'll be ready to play. It feels better right now. I'll be all right."

Franco went 2 for 4 before the injury. He was running to second because Detroit centerfielder Cameron Maybin threw wide of home plate, allowing Franco to advance. The injury came just as Franco appeared to be snapping out of his funk at the plate. He has nine hits in his last 24 at-bats.

Stealing home

The Phillies entered Wednesday with the second fewest runs in baseball. They had scored three or fewer runs in 12 of their 22 games in May. So Mackanin is not afraid to be creative when it comes to scoring runs. The Phillies have played "Peteball" all season. They bunt for hits, employ hit-and-runs, and try suicide squeezes.

On Wednesday, they added another facet by swiping home on a double steal. Andres Blanco broke for home as Peter Bourjos stole second base in the second inning. Blanco got a great jump as he sprinted as soon as catcher James McCann committed to throwing to second.

It was Blanco's third stolen base in nine major-league seasons. He went 2 for 3 with an RBI double. It was Blanco's seventh double of the season and nine of his 16 hits have been for extra bases. Mackanin said he cannot say enough about his super utility player.

The double-steal gamble gave the Phillies their second run of the inning and a 2-0 lead. The next batter, Odubel Herrera, grounded out to end the inning, proving that Mackanin's decision was crucial. Mackanin, not wanting to give away his strategy, deadpanned that the runners were not supposed to steal.

"We have to try things," Mackanin said. "We can't bang it out with most teams, so we have to try those things and take chances."

Extra bases

The Phillies will spend an off day in Chicago before starting a three-game series of matinee games against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. . . . The Phillies will face lefthander Jon Lester (4-3, 2.60 ERA) on Friday, which means that Tommy Joseph will likely start at first base over Ryan Howard. Adam Morgan (1-2, 5.61) will face Lester. Jerad Eickhoff (2-6, 3.86) will pitch Saturday against righthander Kyle Hendricks (2-4, 3.30) and Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.75) will face righthander John Lackey (4-2, 3.38) on Sunday.