Phillies score two in ninth for comeback victory over D-backs

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

Final: Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 3 ❖ Attendance: 19,645

ARIZONA — The Philadelphia Phillies (34-45) were 0-41 when trailing after eight innings, while the Arizona Diamondbacks (36-44) were 30-0 when leading after eight.

Both streaks came to an end early Wednesday morning in the second of the three-game series, as the Phillies completed a two-run comeback victory — their first of the 2016 season — against right-hander Brad Ziegler in the top of the ninth inning at Chase Field.

Closer Jeanmar Gomez successfully recorded his 21st save, securing the series victory, the Phillies' first since May 16-18 and their first road series win since May 10-12, ending a 0-10-2 and 0-5-1 respective series skid.

For the first time since June 20 — the finale of a four-game series against the Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park — the Phillies defense did not commit an error. They have 17 total errors in their last 13 games, with at least one in 11 of the contests.

The Phillies will send rookie right-hander Zach Eflin to the mound later Wednesday afternoon in search of their third series sweep.

WP: Hector Neris (2-3, 2.55 ERA) ❖ LP: Brad Ziegler (2-3, 2.88 ERA) ❖ SV: Jeanmar Gomez (21)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
PHI	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	4	11	0
ARI	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	10	0

Both of Wednesday's right-handed starters, Zack Greinke and Jerad Eickhoff , allowed the leadoff batters to reach in the first — Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera and Diamondbacks second baseman Jean Segura — on an infield single and walk, respectively. Greinke retired the next three Phillies batters in his half of the inning via line out, fly out and strikeout. Eickhoff similarly induced a fly out and line out, however his final out of the inning came on a successful pickoff attempt of Segura to first base — the first of his career through 143 innings.

Eickhoff helped his own cause in the top of the second for the game's first run. Following back-to-back two-out singles by shortstop Freddy Galvis and second baseman Cesar Hernandez to put runners on the corners, he singled to right field for his fourth RBI of the season and the sixth of his 24-start career.

Arizona evened the contest the next half-inning thanks to a sacrifice-fly RBI by Greinke, his second of the season. When Greinke took the mound to start the third, he exited the mound and went into the dugout with permission from the home plate umpire Pat Hoberg. Ultimately, the three-time All-Star was pulled from the game with what was later diagnosed as tightness in his left oblique, according to Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic.

Right-hander Randall Delgado entered the game for Greinke. He would throw three innings of relief, benefiting from a baserunning mistake by Galvis in the fourth. After the shortstop hit a leadoff double in the frame, he was thrown out the next at-bat in a rundown between third and home plate. The Phillies capitalized in the top of the fifth against the right-hander, however — their second lead of the contest — thanks to a two-out solo home run by third baseman Maikel Franco, his 13th of the season and fifth in the month of June.

The Diamondbacks threatened to score in the latter-half of the fourth. Third baseman Jake Lamb hit a leadoff triple, his fifth of the season, but failed to score as Eickhoff escaped the inning unscathed. Similarly, the first two Arizona runners reached in the fifth via hit-by-pitch and single, however Eickhoff struck out the next two batters and got Lamb to ground out to short, preserving the Phillies' lead.

Up to this point, Eickhoff stranded six Diamondbacks on base and limited his opposition to 1-9 with runners in scoring position. He failed to keep them from scoring in the sixth, however, as right fielder Yasmany Tomas hit a towering solo shot to left to tie the game at two.

Manager Pete Mackanin then pulled Eickhoff after he allowed a single to catcher Welington Castillo. In a double switch, Andres Blanco entered at second for Cesar Hernandez, while David Hernandez took the mound. Hernandez allowed a single to shortstop Nick Ahmed, but he struck out two batters in the frame to help escape with the game knotted at two.

In five-plus innings tonight, Eickhoff allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six batters over a span of 107 pitches (64 strikes).

A Phillies starting pitcher has thrown fewer than 7 innings in 19 of the team's last 20 games. The bullpen is dead.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 29, 2016

Facing right-hander Tyler Clippard in the seventh, right fielder Peter Bourjos singled to extend his hit streak to eight games. Following the stretch, Lamb homered off of Hernandez with two outs to right, giving the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead.

The Phillies got to Diamondbacks closer Brad Ziegler in the ninth. Pinch-hitting for RHP Hector Neris, who threw a scoreless eighth, Jimmy Paredes hit a leadoff double to left field. Then, Blanco hit a game-tying RBI single to right field.

After a single by Herrera and walk by Bourjos, first baseman Ryan Howard went on to walk home the game-winning run with the bases loaded. It was his first multi-walk performance since April 10 at Citi Field.

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Starting Pitchers