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Phillies pile up 20 hits, rout Marlins

Nick Williams tripled twice, and the Phils' hit total was their highest in a game since June 2013.

The Phillies' Nick Williams (5) is congratulated by Daniel Nava (25) after Williams scored on a sacrifice fly in the first inning against the Marlins on Wednesday
The Phillies' Nick Williams (5) is congratulated by Daniel Nava (25) after Williams scored on a sacrifice fly in the first inning against the Marlins on WednesdayRead moreWILFREDO LEE / AP

MIAMI — The Phillies, in less than 24 hours, clubbed 33 hits inside this air-conditioned spaceship of a ballpark. They are a flawed offensive team, a unit that will undergo moderate tweaks in the next 10 days, with more change possible before next April. But the last 18 innings of baseball at Marlins Park were cathartic for the current group.

The Phillies hoarded 20 hits, their most in a game since 2013, in a 10-3 win Wednesday over Miami. They scored their 10 runs without the benefit of a home run. Seven starters collected at least two hits. The Phillies had men in scoring position in seven of the game's nine innings.

They had some fun.

"That'll pump anybody up," first baseman Tommy Joseph said. "It gets the team going. It puts the coaches in a better mood. It puts us in a better mood."

Nick Williams tripled twice. Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis combined to reach base seven times and score five runs. Daniel Nava ripped four singles. Hell, Joseph had two infield hits.

But, after a rewarding afternoon for so many players, it was Maikel Franco who filled the manager's mind. Pete Mackanin, on Tuesday, watched Franco take batting practice and noticed a different style. Mackanin asked Matt Stairs, the hitting coach, about it. Franco stayed above the ball with a more level swing.

The third baseman has worked hard to simplify his approach.

"I'm trying to just hit a line drive," Franco said. "Wherever the ball is going — if the ball is away, just try to hit a line drive away. Stay in the middle. Try to hit a line drive to the middle. That's what I've been working on."

Franco singled, doubled, and walked in Wednesday's win. His slugging percentage has crept to .408, the highest it's been since April 12. He was 11 for 25 on this road trip. He has struck out just twice in his last 54 plate appearances.

He has, since June 12, walked more times (13) than he has struck out (12). Franco has hit .276 with an .868 OPS in that stretch of 141 plate appearances. Even his outs in the last six games were struck hard.

Those are all signs of why the Phillies believe Franco will enjoy a better second half to his season.

"I'm real excited about Maikel Franco's approach," Mackanin said. "The last few days, he really has a great swing. You can see the results he had. I think he's going to stick with it. I foresee a big second half for him. He just has to continue what he's doing now and he's really going to hit."

The manager is also excited about two lineup additions, Hernandez and Williams, who have added energy and production as the Phillies play without Aaron Altherr and Howie Kendrick.

Hernandez has reached base six times in his 16 plate appearances since his return from a strained abdominal muscle.

"It's nice to have a prototypical leadoff hitter," Mackanin said. "If you insert one hitter in a lineup, it can change the whole complexion of the lineup. I keep thinking of last year when the Braves added [Matt] Kemp. They started hitting. The addition of Williams, so far, has given us a spark."

Williams has multiple hits and multiple RBIs in four straight games. He is the first Phillies hitter to do that since Greg Luzinski in 1977. Williams became the first Phillies rookie since Jimmy Rollins in 2001 to collect two triples in a game. Only six Phillies rookies have done it since 1961. Williams now has nine extra-base hits in his first 16 major-league games.

The Phillies had not won a three-game series on the road since April 22. They did it in memorable fashion. It could have been even more lopsided: The Phillies left a staggering 15 men on base.

They flew home Wednesday night carrying some good vibes.

"You get the opportunity to really enjoy that off day," Joseph said, "and come back with a smile on your face Friday."