Arizona Diamondbacks vs Philadelphia Phillies Match Player Stats On Jun 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 16, 2017

PHILADELPHIA -- The Arizona Diamondbacks erased a two-run deficit in the seventh inning thanks to Gregor Blanco's two-run homer, then took the lead and held on for a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

Arizona (42-26), which has won five in a row, matched its 2002 squad for best 68-game start in franchise history.

Trailing 4-2 after six innings, the Diamondbacks wasted no time pulling back even with their hosts. After pinch-hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker reached on a chopper to short to open the seventh, Blanco drove them both in with a line-drive shot to right that easily cleared the wall for his second home run of the year.

It certainly wasn't the most likely source for power in an Arizona lineup that has two players with 15 home runs or more and three others with at least six. Blanco, who's played in 32 games this season (88 at-bats), has never had more than five homers in any one MLB season, despite five years with over 300 at-bats.

A single by the next batter, David Peralta, chased Phillies starter Aaron Nola from the game. Paul Goldschmidt then singled off reliever Pat Neshek to move Peralta to third, and the right fielder scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Lamb to put Arizona back on top, 5-4.

The Phillies (22-44) threatened in the bottom of the seventh, with men on the corners and two outs, but couldn't score as they lost for the ninth time in 10 games.

Arizona starter Patrick Corbin (6-6) picked up the win for the second consecutive start despite letting the Phillies take the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a two-RBI double by Maikel Franco. The left-hander finished out six innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out five without allowing a walk.

Archie Bradley pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Diamondbacks before Fernando Rodney retired in side in order for his 19th save of the season.

Nola (3-5) gave up nine hits and those five runs (all earned) in six-plus innings, walking two while striking out six.

NOTES: The series continues on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET. The Phillies will pit RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-7, 5.09 ERA) against Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (2-1, 2.44 ERA). ... Phillies 1B Tommy Joseph extended a career-long hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the fourth inning. ... 3B Jake Lamb's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning was his league-leading 58th RBI. ... Arizona is now 14-6 (.700) in one-run games, which breaks a tie with the Los Angeles Angels for most one-run wins in MLB this year.