Phillies' Franco receives encouraging words from A-Rod

NEW YORK -- Maikel Franco was playing third base and Alex Rodriguez was standing on the bag when the two players from different generations had a brief conversation, one the Phillies rookie won't soon forget.

Making a major splash in his Yankee Stadium debut, Franco was 4 for 5 with two home runs, including one that traveled an estimated 430 feet to the left field bleachers. He also had five RBIs in the Phillies 11-8 win over the New York Yankees on Monday.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Franco, who is 22 years, 300 days, became the youngest Phillies player since 1900 with four hits and two home runs in the same game.

So when A-Rod was standing on third, he had some praise for Franco.

"He told me some good things," Franco said before Tuesday's game at Yankee Stadium.

To hear encouraging words from Rodriguez was an unexpected thrill for Franco, who entered Tuesday hitting .312 with a .928 OPS , nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 150 plate appearances.

"It was amazing," Franco said. "He has 600 home runs, 3000 hits 2,000 RBIs and it was awesome for a guy like that to talk to me like that."

One bit of advice Rodriguez  gave to Franco?

"He said, 'keep swinging and always be ready at the plate,'" Franco said.

In addition to his offensive exploits, Franco made a sensational defensive play in the sixth inning, robbing Chris Young of a hit. Franco made a diving stab to his right, got up and then threw a laser to first.

Obviously there were many who were impressed with Franco's Yankee Stadium debut.

"I don't know as an individual how you can have a much better day," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "The way he swung the bat, the defense he played, the arm strength he showed."

To perform so well under the bright lights in of New York, made Franco's effort that much more impressive.

"I was told that as a young player coming to New York the first time by veteran players that if you do something good here, everybody will know about it," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I have never forgotten it and the fact that he was able to rise to the occasion and have that kind of game, shows what kind of player he is and can be and the job he is doing right now."

Franco admitted that playing at Yankee Stadium was a little different.

"Before the game I did think about it (playing at Yankee Stadium) but when I went to play I just focused on playing the game the right way," Franco said. "Yankee Stadium is great but most of the time I was thinking of playing the game and playing the game well."