By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
In the longest nine-inning game in Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates history, manager Gabe Kapler's club captured its fifth straight win opposite their cross-state rivals Friday evening, 17-5. At four hours and 30 minutes, the game also tied the National League record for the longest nine-inning game.
Despite starter Nick Pivetta lasting just 2 2/3 innings — allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts on 74 pitches — the rest of the Phillies offense and bullpen surely backed up the right-hander in their 11-game, 10-day, four-city road trip opener.
With the rout, the Phillies advanced into a tie with the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East.
After a 17-5 victory over the Pirates and a Braves loss, the @Phillies are in 1st place in the NL East
This is the latest in the season they've been in 1st place since the final day of the 2011 season
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 7, 2018
Down 1-0, third baseman Maikel Franco and center fielder Odubel Herrera respectively produced a two-run RBI double and three-run home run in the second and third innings. Three frames later, first baseman Carlos Santana hit a sacrifice fly RBI to center, followed by shortstop Scott Kingery's RBI infield single to give the Phillies a 7-4 lead.
The club added seven runs in the seventh, three of which came off the bat of catcher Andrew Knapp — his second home run in three games — increasing the Phillies lead to 14-7. Left fielder Rhys Hoskins and Herrera also hit RBI singles, while Santana hit a RBI double, his team second-best 17th. Three more runs were added in the ninth, two via RBI doubles by Hoskins and second baseman Jesmuel Valentin. Kingery finished the game with a season-high four hits, the third such game this season for Phillies hitters.
During the Friday rout, the Phillies walked 10 times, their third game with 10 walks this season, and just their fifth overall since 2011, according to The Athletic's Ben Harris. The Phillies have hit at least one home run in 20 of their last 22 games since June 12, and are 5-0 against the Pirates this season. The Phillies last won five straight games opposite the Pirates from June 5, 2011, to April 5, 2012.
While the Phillies have won five straight against the Washington Nationals (June 30-July 1), Baltimore Orioles (July 3-4) and Pirates (July 6), the Braves have fallen in four straight contests against the New York Yankees (July 3-4) and Milwaukee Brewers (July 5-6).
