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Phillies' Mackanin praises Galvis' defense

CHICAGO - Pete Mackanin had high praise for Freddy Galvis, who scored the team's lone run on Saturday afternoon and made an excellent relay throw to keep a run from scoring in a 4-1 loss to the Cubs.

CHICAGO - Pete Mackanin had high praise for Freddy Galvis, who scored the team's lone run on Saturday afternoon and made an excellent relay throw to keep a run from scoring in a 4-1 loss to the Cubs.

"If he's not the best shortstop in the league, I'd like to see the guy that's playing as consistent defense as he is," Mackanin said.

Galvis has made just one error this season in 48 games and has played 44 games without an error. Galvis made eight errors last season in the first 48 games. His improved defense stems from the afternoon practice sessions with bench coach Larry Bowa as the two work on the shortstop's footwork.

Galvis said he just stays focused on making routine plays, the kind that got away from him last season.

"Don't try to do too much," Galvis said. "Just throw the ball, catch the ball, and that's it. So far, so good."

Galvis went 2 for 3 on Saturday and was the only Phillie with more than one hit. He has nine hits in his last 25 at-bats and is batting .300 in his last 16 games.

Mackanin lauded Galvis for running out a routine fly ball in the ninth, which allowed Galvis to easily reach second when the ball dropped to the ground. The manager loved Galvis' energy when he raced home that inning as the catcher threw to first to complete Ryan Howard's strikeout.

Galvis stayed in the game after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning. The ball hit Galvis near the right ankle, and he limped to first base with the help of the team's trainer. Galvis wrapped ice around the ankle in the clubhouse. He plans to play Sunday.

And what did he think of that high praise from Mackanin?

"If he says it, I believe it," Galvis said. "I try to play hard every day and try to make the outs for the pitcher. That's it."

Howard or Joseph?

It will be interesting to see who starts at first base on Sunday after Ryan Howard went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Saturday.

Howard's season average dipped to .154, and he is batting .096 in 21 games this month. Tommy Joseph, who started Friday against a lefthanded pitcher, has nine hits in 31 at-bats since being called up from triple A. Joseph has started over Howard five times in 11 games in which the designated hitter was not an option. The Phillies face a righthanded pitcher in Sunday's series finale.

Extra bases

Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.75 ERA) will face righthander John Lackey (4-2, 3.38) Sunday. . . . The Phillies are 5-10 this season against the National League Central and 21-13 against the rest of baseball. . . . Andrew Bailey pitched a scoreless inning. The South Jersey native has not allowed a run in his last five outings.