Phillies sweep Marlins on Francoeur's walk-off homer

Jeff Francoeur spent the first three months of last season in the minor leagues. He was a nine-year major-league veteran traversing the western United States by bus with the El Paso Chihuahuas.

He worked his way back to the major leagues, first, by accepting the Phillies' non-roster invitation to spring training. The 31-year-old then played himself onto the opening-day roster by securing the final bench spot. And now Francoeur is playing himself into a starting role.

Francoeur's major-league comeback continued Sunday as his walk-off homer lifted the Phillies past the Miami Marlins, 8-7, at Citizens Bank Park. The outfielder's eighth homer of the season was his second in three days as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep. It picked up the team after a rough start by Cole Hamels, who lasted just three innings in what could be his final start at Citizens Bank Park if the Phillies move him before the July 31 trade deadline.

"One of the best things that happened to me was going back to triple A last year and playing every day and working my butt off," Francoeur said. "It made me realize that you have to play well and work hard to be up here. You don't just deserve it. You earn it. To work like I did and to come to spring training, it feels good to have earned to be back here."

Hamels allowed five runs in his shortest start in four years. The lefthander was lifted after just 76 pitches. His performance has appeared to dwindle as the trade deadline creeps closer. Hamels has a 6.10 ERA in his last seven starts. Saturday was the second consecutive start that Hamels pitched less than four innings.

Hamels' poor outing was offset by the team's unlikely offensive output. The Phillies gave Hamels more than three runs of support for the first time since May 23. Ryan Howard blasted a 409-foot homer to right to lead off the second. It was the 350th of his career. Freddy Galvis hit a two-run homer later in the second and the Phillies ended the inning with five runs, giving Hamels a 5-2 lead, which he promptly gave back the next inning.

Interim manager Pete Mackanin visited the mound in the third inning. He said he wanted to get a read on Hamels. The pitcher told him he was making bad pitches in hitters' counts. Hamels could not explain much more. Mackanin did not want his ace to reach 90 pitches in the fourth inning. Hamels was finished after three, leaving with the game tied, 5-5. The manager said he thinks the lefthander is "in a little bit of a rut."

"I just wasn't able to locate pitches early," Hamels said. "I think I was becoming a little bit too predictable. When you're doing that and laying pitches over the heart of the plate, that's when they're going to be able to manufacture some hits and obviously get some runs."

The team's bullpen held the Marlins scoreless for four innings until Ken Giles allowed two runs in the eighth. It was the righthander's third game in as many days. He had not allowed a run in his last seven outings. Francoeur said the team stayed upbeat. Giles had bailed them out all season.

And then up stepped Francoeur with a chance to bail out Giles. He slammed the second pitch he saw over the left-field fence. Francoeur rounded third, removed his helmet, and tossed it to his side. There was a mob of teammates waiting to soak him with water bottles at home plate. Francoeur's the type of player, Mackanin said, that everyone loves.

He had been pestering the manager for a month, asking him for more playing time. Mackanin said he earned it. The manager will write Francoeur into Monday's lineup. His major-league comeback rolls on.