Franco exits with sore elbow as Phillies beat Rays

Maikel Franco had never felt something like this, he said. The rookie said he felt "a little bit of pain" in his right elbow. And that little bit proved to be enough for the Phillies to show caution Monday night in a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay.

Franco was removed from the game with elbow soreness. Interim manager Pete Mackanin said he thinks Franco hurt his the elbow on a sharp diving catch and throw to end the sixth inning of the Phillies' fourth straight victory. Franco was evaluated after the game. He said he thinks it's not a big deal. Franco does not anticipate a trip to the disabled list but said he might have to miss a few games.

"At this point, not that concerned," Mackanin said. "It wasn't good news to hear. But we'll wait and see tomorrow what the trainers say."

Franco is batting .283 through 59 games this season. He went 2 for 4 and scored a run on Monday. He has played almost every game since being promoted in May from triple-A Lehigh Valley. Franco said his playing time has not taken a toll on his body.

"Because that's what I do," Franco said. "In the minor leagues, too, and it didn't happen in the minor leagues. We can just try to come in here tomorrow and see what happens."

David Buchanan, who pitched 61/3 innings, was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley after the game. The news came a few minutes after he earned his first win since Aug. 6, 2014. The pitcher entered Monday 0-8 in his last 15 starts, only one of which was a Phillies win.

Buchanan allowed three runs on six hits. It was the longest start by a Phillies righthanded pitcher since May 14.

Buchanan's performance was a welcome respite for an overworked bullpen. Mackanin said the pitcher was sent to the minors so he could remain on a normal pitching schedule.

The Phillies will move to a four-man rotation with two off days in the next week.

"It's something that hurts to hear," Buchanan said. "But that's just part of the game. You never want to hear something like that. But all I can do is do what I did last time. Build off what I did today, go down there and continue to work to get better."

The pitcher helped provide his own run support in the second inning.

Rays starter Matt Moore threw a wild pitch past Buchanan with two outs, scoring a sliding Jeff Francoeur from third. Buchanan kept the rally alive with a walk to load the bases. Cesar Hernandez followed with a double to left and the Phillies ended the inning with a 3-2 lead.

Buchanan retired 10 batters in order after allowing a pair of runs in the second inning. He had thrown just 84 pitches after six innings.

The seventh inning belonged to him. Two of the first three batters singled, scoring the third earned run against the starter.

Mackanin came to the mound. Buchanan walked to the dugout. He was finished. The pitcher received a loud ovation, rare for a pitcher this season. A few innings later Buchanan received a win, which the pitcher has found even rarer.

@matt_breen