By Sam Bush
The worst-in-the-majors Orioles were the Phillies’ latest pigeons, but it wasn’t easy last night at CPB.
Zach Eflin pitched seven strong innings for his sixth straight victory, Andrew Knapp had the winning hit for the second straight game and the Phils won 3-2 for their 11th win in 16 games.
Rhys Hoskins had a two-run double, rookie Seranthony Dominguez pitched four outs for his eighth save and Maikel Franco made a game-saving defensive play for the Phillies, who pulled within 2 ½ games of the Braves for first place in the NL East.
“It was a great team win,” Eflin said.
Eflin (7-2) allowed two runs and five hits with six strikeouts and no walks to become the first Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee in 2011 to record six consecutive wins. The right-hander has a 1.91 ERA while striking out 34 and walking six in 37 2/3 innings over that stretch.
“More aggressive and trusting my pitches,” Eflin said.
The Phillies bullpen preserved the win, but it got interesting.
Tommy Hunter got the first two outs of the eighth before manager Gabe Kapler went to Dominguez with Orioles star Manny Machado up.
“One of the best hitters in the game, you try to neutralize him with your best bullet,” Kapler said.
Dominguez walked Machado and Mark Trumbo to load the bases for Chris Davis. Franco made a stellar diving play to his right at third base to snare Davis’ ground ball before throwing him out at first to keep the Phillies ahead 3-2. The out was upheld after an Orioles challenge.
“Play of the game,” Kapler said. “Got us the win.”
Franco, who has been in and out of the lineup this season, cherished the out.
“I just tried to make a good play and make a good throw,” he said. “I wanted that play so bad.”
Trumbo homered for Baltimore, which has dropped eight of nine.
“The effort was there,” Trumbo said. “The frustration, it’s as much as you make of it.”
The game was delayed 1 hour, 25 minutes due to rain and played mostly under a persistent drizzle.
The Phils took a one-run lead in the fourth on Knapp’s two-out triple to right off Alex Cobb (2-10) that scored Nick Williams. Knapp, their backup catcher, started two days after his game-ending homer in the 13th lifted the Phillies over the Nationals 4-3.
