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Phillies Notes: Galvis' new batting approach working fine so far

The Phillies have had a plan for shortstop Freddy Galvis since the beginning of spring training, and the results in the early part of the season have been encouraging.

Phillies' Freddy Galvis hits a single.  (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Phillies' Freddy Galvis hits a single. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

The Phillies have had a plan for shortstop Freddy Galvis since the beginning of spring training, and the results in the early part of the season have been encouraging.

The plan was for Galvis to hit the ball more on the ground, use the entire field and not have him go for the big blast.

After going 3 for 3 and scoring two runs Sunday in a 5-4 win over the visiting Atlanta Braves, Galvis is hitting .361. Considering he hit just .176 in 119 at-bats for the Phillies last year, this is real progress.

"The coaches told me in spring training that I had to stay on the ground, hit line drives, and I really like it and enjoy it," Galvis said.

His early success has boosted his confidence. "It has a lot, 100 percent," he said.

Galvis hurt his rib Saturday making an outstanding defensive play in a 5-2 loss to Atlanta. He left the game.

He made a stab to his left Saturday on a Nick Markakis grounder and while rolling on the ground, he threw him out at first. Galvis wouldn't say whether it was his best defensive play ever.

"I don't know," he said. "I make a lot of plays, but that one was a good one."

Hamels' suitors?

With injuries to pitchers Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals and Brandon McCarthy of the Dodgers and the ineffectiveness of other starting staffs, look for increased trade rumors concerning Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told KMOX-AM that he doesn't expect Wainwright (Achilles, ankle) to pitch again this year.

McCarthy (right elbow tightness) will have an MRI exam on Monday.

Another long- rumored suitor, the Boston Red Sox, began Sunday ranked 29th in starters' ERA (5.35). There are other teams who might feel Hamels could put them over the top. Of course, they may not be willing to pay the Phillies' asking price.

Hamels will pitch Monday against St. Louis in the opening game of a four-game series.

Few expect Hamels to be around after the July 31 trade deadline, but teams desperate for a frontline starter may not want to wait that long.

Extra bases

Phillies centerfielder Odubel Herrera has reached base safely in a team-high 11 consecutive games. . . . Jonathan Papelbon earned his 329th save on Sunday, tying him with Francisco Cordero for 14th place on the all-time list, and bringing him within two of Jose Mesa's Phillies club record. . . . It was the Phillies' first Sunday win since Aug. 24, 2014, when they beat St. Louis, 7-1. It snapped a Sunday streak of seven straight defeats.