MIAMI — Maikel Franco is the tiebreaker.
His past three home runs — including the shot he hit in the eighth inning on Tuesday night — have broken tie scores.
Franco’s solo blast and a two-run blast by rookie Nick Williams in the ninth propelled the Phillies to a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins.
Starting pitching report
Vince Velasquez, who hadn’t pitched since May 30 because of an elbow injury suffered at Marlins Park, fared well in his return to Miami but got a no-decision. He allowed four hits, one walk, two runs (one earned) in six innings. He struck out four.
His one big mistake came on a 94-mph fastball he threw to Giancarlo Stanton, the NL home run leader. Stanton hit that pitch 442 feet to left, and it had an exit velocity of 111 mph.
Bullpen report
The Phillies got three scoreless innings from their ‘pen. All-Star Pat Neshek (3-2) got the win. Joaquin Benoit pitched the eighth, and Hector Neris earned his ninth save.
MLB
At the plate
One night after getting out-homered 3-0 by the Marlins, the Phillies reversed that trend. The Phillies got Franco’s blast and the one by Williams, who was moved up to third in the batting order for this game. The Marlins had just Stanton's shot.
In the field
In the third inning, Velasquez bare-handed a swinging bunt by JT Riddle. Velasquez threw wildly past first baseman Tommy Joseph, and Riddle wound up at third on a two-base error. On the next pitch, catcher Cameron Rupp failed to backhand a low throw, and Riddle scored on the passed ball.
Rupp redeemed himself later in the inning with a bullet throw to second, catching Dee Gordon trying to steal.
Injury report
Howie Kendrick, who is hitting .349 with an .879 OPS, took batting practice Monday in Miami, and he could go on a minor-league rehab assignment soon. Out since June 28 with a left hamstring injury, Kendrick, 34, could be traded at the deadline if healthy. His contract expires after this season.
Up next
Rookie right-hander Nick Pivetta (2-5, 5.63 ERA) will start the series finale on Wednesday afternoon against Marlins veteran right-hander Dan Straily. In Pivetta’s first six starts, he never went past five innings. But in his most recent six starts, he has gone at least six innings four times.
“His first couple of starts … they weren’t good,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “Then he all of a sudden turned it around. He started throwing strikes with all his pitches. He was more composed.
“I told him for his second start, ‘Slow your head down.’ And he started doing that. I’ve told players, ‘The sooner you convince yourself you belong here, the better off you are.’”