Instant Replay: Phillies 5, Rays 3

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David Buchanan broke a 15-start winless streak as the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, in an interleague game at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.

Buchanan survived early trouble and allowed just three runs while pitching into the seventh. He was backed up by some excellent bullpen work.

Though they have the worst record in the majors, the Phillies have come out of the gate after the All-Star break with four straight wins and are now just 29 games under .500.

Starting pitching report
Buchanan (1-5) allowed nine baserunners in 6 1/3 innings, but he got important outs when he needed them. One of them came in the first inning when he stuck out Tim Beckham with the bases loaded.

The win was Buchanan’s first since Aug. 6, 2014. He went 0-8 with a 4.63 ERA in 15 big-league starts before Monday night’s win.

Buchanan was optioned to Triple A after the game. Jerome Williams is coming off the disabled list and he will be slotted into the rotation.

Tampa Bay lefty Matt Moore allowed five hits and four runs over 4 2/3 innings. He is 1-1.

Bullpen report
Jake Diekman and Luis Garcia both registered important strikeouts in the seventh inning to preserve the Phillies’ two-run lead. Jeanmar Gomez pitched around an infield error and got three outs in the eighth.

Jonathan Papelbon (two strikeouts and a groundout) remained perfect with his 16th save.

Papelbon has 341 career saves, tying him with Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers for 12th all-time.

At the plate
The Phillies came back from a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the second. Jeff Francoeur daringly scored the first run from third on a wild pitch. Cesar Hernandez drove in two with a two-out double.

The Phils scored two in the fifth on hits by Maikel Franco and Darin Ruf.

The Phils were 4 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

Former Phillie Grady Sizemore batted leadoff and had three hits for the Rays.

In the field
Third baseman Franco made a tremendous diving play (and throw) to steal a hit from Tim Beckham to end the top of the sixth inning. Franco later made an error to lead off the eighth, but Gomez pitched around it.

Franco left the game after the eighth inning with a sore throwing elbow. He will be evaluated on Tuesday.

Health check
Chad Billingsley is headed to the disabled list with more elbow woes. Jerome Williams is ready to come off the DL and Aaron Harang is moving swiftly. Cliff Lee? Nothing new. He is not expected to pitch for the Phillies again (see story).

Up next
Aaron Nola, the Phillies’ top pick in the 2014 draft, makes his major-league debut Tuesday night against Tampa Bay right-hander Nathan Karns (4-5, 3.63).

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