Friday, May 20, 2011
Posted: 9:30 p.m.Updated: 11:30 p.m.
By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com
BOX SCORE
Growing up in Southern California, Ben Francisco and the Mariners' Ryan Garko were the star hitters for Servite High School in Anaheim, while C.J. Wilson was the star lefty pitcher for Fountain Valley High approximately 10 miles down the road.
So when the pair, Francisco and Wilson, squared off on Friday night in South Philadelphia for just the second time in a regular season big-league game, it was as if it was just another high school matchup. Wilson, as usual, piled up 10 strikeouts in seven innings while scattering four hits, while Francisco went deep
Wait, what?
Indeed, Ben Francisco, the veritable poster child of the Phillies recent hitting woes, clubbed a game-breaking, two-run homer in the second inning against his old high school nemesis to lead the Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers to open the latest round of Interleague play.
MLB
Franciscos blast gave the Phils a 2-1 lead and set the table for Raul Ibanez to belt a solo shot over the centerfield fence with two outs in the fourth inning.
For Francisco, it was his fifth homer of the season, but his first since April 26. More notably, Francisco had gone without an extra-base hit since April 27, a span in which he went 6 for 46 (.130).
It felt good, Francisco said. It felt like old times.
Presumably, Francisco was talking about old times from last month where he hit four homers and had 18 RBIs in 26 games as the Phillies streaked out to a franchise-best 18 wins in April. However, with a flip of the calendar to May and more games against better teams, things havent gone as well for Francisco and the gang.
Headed into Friday nights game, Francisco was 4 for 40 with eight strikeouts and one RBI in May. As his struggles continued, Francisco saw his name out of the lineup more and more with another righthanded hitter, John Mayberry, getting more playing time.
Baseball, Francisco said, when asked the source of his hitting issues. Obviously youre going to go through slumps. Its only been a few weeks and its a long season and we still have a long way to go, so hopefully you get out of it quick. Obviously, I didnt, but I feel pretty good now. Ive been working on my swing a lot here lately, so hopefully I made a few adjustments.
So maybe all Francisco needed was a familiar face in order to get his stroke together?
I havent been as productive as I would have liked the past few weeks, so it was nice to get one there, Francisco said about the homer off his former high school rival.
Meanwhile, Ibanez was the first lefty to slug a homer off Wilson all season, while picking up his first walk this month.
Still, its not as if the Phillies tore the cover off the ball. Wilson held them to just four hits, which marks the seventh straight game the Phils have connected on six hits or fewera feat never accomplished since records were kept starting in 1919.
Everybody has been in a slump this year and you just try to get out of it as quickly as possible, Francisco said.
Certainly, Francisco has not been alone. Cleanup hitter Ryan Howard went 0 for 3 on Friday night to extend his hitless skid to a robust 0 for 23.
Seems like when he hits the ball into the shift he hits it right at someone, manager Charlie Manuel said. Of course, hes striking out and I dont think hes seeing the ball too good right now. Hes late sometimes, when hes hitting.
Additionally, catcher Carlos Ruiz brought a 3 for 39 into Fridays game, while Jimmy Rollins is 1 for 9 during this homestand and just 3 for 17 leading off games this season.
Even Placido Polanco, the toughest hitter in the National League to strikeout this season, has seen his production drop off in May. So far this month Polanco is batting .231 with seven strikeouts in 18 games. However, he got the only hit amongst the first five hitters in the Phils lineup Friday night, as the quintet went 1 for 17.
But bucking the trend has been Ibanez. After snapping out of an 0 for 35 skid, Ibanez is batting .375 with three homers and six doubles since May 3.
Hes been swinging the bat pretty good, really, Manuel said. His swing has been getting better.
Whether or not Francisco will get the majority of playing time in the outfield is up in the air. With Shane Victorino on the disabled list and Dom Brown in line for much-needed playing time, Manuel is going to have to juggle his outfielders.
Thats not as easy as it sounds.
I guess I might want to get lucky and put the guys in the game when theyre going to do something, Manuel said. At the same time Id like to establish a guy I can go to most of the time. Its kind of up to how they do.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com