Phillies 6, Dodgers 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Rookie third baseman Maikel Franco hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies over the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Tuesday night.
Franco's slam, off reliever Joel Peralta, was the first of his career, and the second by a Phillies player this season. It was also the first by a Phillies rookie since Ryan Howard hit one against Atlanta on Sept. 21, 2005.
Franco's heroics propelled Philadelphia to its 13th victory in 16 games since the All-Star break.
The Phillies, owners of the best record in baseball in that stretch, nonetheless have the worst overall mark, at 42-65.
The West-leading Dodgers saw a four-game winning streak come to an end.
The game marked the return to Philadelphia of Los Angeles shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who spent 15 years with the Phillies. Rollins, cheered lustily before the game and accorded a standing ovation before he hit in the first inning, went 2-for-5 and committed an error.
With the score tied 1-1, Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz led off the seventh with a single off Alex Wood (7-7). Pinch hitter Domonic Brown then grounded to second baseman Howie Kendrick, who attempted to tag Ruiz only to see Ruiz stop in his tracks.
Kendrick threw to first to retire Brown, but Ruiz beat the throw to second by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
Wood intentionally walked second baseman Cesar Hernandez, and as he attempted to deliver a 3-2 pitch to center fielder Odubel Herrera had the ball slip out of his hand. Ruiz came around to score before the ball could be recovered. But after a conference the umpires ruled a balk, leaving runners at second and third.
Herrera walked to load the bases, and Peralta replaced Wood.
Franco hit his 1-1 pitch, a curveball, into the seats in left field for his 12th homer of the season.
Jeanmar Gomez (1-2) earned the victory in relief for Philadelphia. Ken Giles pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his third save.
Wood, making his first start for the Dodgers since he was acquired in a trade with Atlanta last week, went 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs and eight hits. He struck out eight and walked two.
Phillies starter Jerome Williams, who was looking to end a personal five-game losing streak, instead took a no-decision. Williams, winless over his last nine starts, went five innings and allowed one run and seven hits.
The Phillies broke on top in the third inning.
Hernandez singled with one out and Herrera followed with a double into the right-field corner, bringing Hernandez all the way around to score.
The Dodgers knotted it at 1-1 in the fifth inning. Rollins led off with a single but was erased on a fielder's choice. Consecutive singles by Gonzalez and left fielder Andre Ethier delivered second baseman Kendrick with the tying run.
An RBI double by Los Angeles pinch hitter Carl Crawford in the eighth cut the gap to 5-2, but Brown singled home a Philadelphia run in the bottom of that inning.
NOTES: Dodgers SS Jimmy Rollins said before the game that the Phillies' clubhouse was "a rough place" last year and that he spoke with general manager Ruben Amaro after the season (and before Rollins' trade to Los Angeles) about the problems former manager Ryne Sandberg had communicating with the players. "I thought that was something that he needed to work on," Rollins said. "When you manage, you have to manage the players -- manage the game during game time, but in the meantime, you have to manage the players." ... Before the game, the Dodgers reinstated C A.J. Ellis (right knee inflammation) from the disabled list and optioned C Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Phillies 2B Chase Utley, on the disabled list since June 23 with an inflamed right ankle, was scheduled to continue his rehab assignment in Trenton with Double-A Reading on Tuesday and Wednesday.