Maikel Franco didn’t know he’d be in Philadelphia’s starting lineup until he arrived at Miller Park. The Milwaukee Brewers likely wish he’d been on the bench. Franco homered and drove in four runs and the Phillies held off Milwaukee’s ninth-inning rally for a 10-9 victory.”We didn’t tell him he was going to be starting
http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-robert-griffin-iii-jersey ,” Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said. ”He worked great at-bats. He punished pitchers when they made mistakes. (Franco) has shown an incredible attitude recently.” Franco, who had been out of the lineup recently after struggling at the plate, said he comes prepared to play, even when his name isn’t on the lineup card.”I can’t control that,” Franco said. ”I just try to be ready every single day.”Rhys Hoskins and Odubel Herrera also homered as the Phillies took two of three from the Brewers, who are tied with Atlanta for the best record in the NL.Milwaukee trailed 10-5 going into the ninth. Jesus Aguilar led off with a home run and Eric Thames hit his second homer of the game, a three-run shot with two outs off Hector Neris.Christian Yelich followed with a deep drive to center field and Herrera made a leaping catch for the final out, giving Jake Thompson his second save.”We thought he went deep, the way it looked off the bat,” Thames said. ”We were close to tying that game.”Tommy Hunter (2-0) picked up the win with one inning of relief.Hoskins hit a two-run homer in the first off starter Chase Anderson (5-6). Hoskins connected for the second straight day and his 10th of the season.Thames had his first career leadoff home run, a drive into the right-field bullpen off Aaron Nola. Milwaukee tied it in the third on Lorenzo Cain’s RBI double before Philadelphia regained the lead in the fourth on Franco’s two-run homer.Franco is 5 for 10 with three home runs in his career against Anderson.The Brewers pulled even in the fifth on a run-scoring double by Travis Shaw, who then scored on Aguilar’s single that chased Nola.Nola gave up four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.Nick Williams drove in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single off reliever Jeremy Jeffress in the sixth to give Philadelphia a 6-4 lead. Yelich had a sacrifice fly in the bottom half.Franco’s bases-loaded single in the seventh drove in two more as the Phillies extended the lead to 8-5. Philadelphia added another run in the eighth on Scott Kingery’s RBI double.Herrera hit a leadoff homer in the ninth to grow the lead to 10-5 before the Brewers rallied.ROSTER MOVEThe Brewers optioned RHP Jorge Lopez to Triple-A Colorado Springs and recalled RHP Adrian Houser.ARCIA BENCHEDHernan Perez started at shortstop in place of struggling Orlando Arcia. ”He’s been swinging the bat pretty well,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Perez. Arcia, who is hitting .204
Giants Kyle Lauletta Jersey , was sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 25 but returned five days later after his replacement, Tyler Saladino, injured his left ankle. Perez had two doubles and a walk in five plate appearances.NOLA’S STREAK ENDSNola failed to pitch at least five innings for the first time since May 31, 2017, snapping a streak that spanned 35 starts. ”My command wasn’t where it usually is,” Nola said. ”They hit me around a good bit. They were on me every inning.”TRAINER’S ROOMPhillies: Williams was hit on the left elbow by a pitch in the fourth but remained in the game.Brewers: Houser vomited behind the mound while warming up in the eighth. He stayed in the game and faced two batters before vomiting a second time. He again remained on the mound and faced three more hitters to finish the inning.”I think it was a combination of traveling this morning and not having a lot of food in me. I was trying to stay hydrated in the bullpen. It’s pretty hot here compared to Colorado Springs. All combined, it got me.”Houser’s willingness to stay in the game impressed Kapler.”I have a lot of respect for anybody who would step behind the mound and throw up and step back on the mound and pitch,” he said. … LHP Wade Miley, sidelined since May 9 with a left oblique injury, threw a simulated game Sunday morning. He will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Biloxi. … Zach Davies, on the DL with right rotator cuff inflammation, is expected to make a rehab start on Tuesday at Triple-A Colorado Springs.UP NEXTPhillies: Nick Pivetta (4-6) will pitch the opener of a three-game set against St. Louis.Brewers: Jhoulys Chacin (6-1) takes the mound in the opener of a three-game series at Pittsburgh.鈥?Drew Brees dispensed with technicalities regarding his contract and spoke as if his return to New Orleans next season was virtually assured.“It’s the same way I felt two days ago. It’s the same way I felt 12 years ago. I’ll be here as long as they’ll have me,” Brees said Tuesday in the locker room at Saints headquarters, where players were packing up for the offseason following their dramatic elimination from the playoffs in Minnesota last weekend.Brees acknowledged he’d have leverage if he chose to listen to offers from other clubs
John Kelly Color Rush Jersey , but asserted that he has no plans to do so for professional and personal reasons.The Saints have pieces in place to be a contender in upcoming seasons, having nearly advanced to the NFC title game with a roster featuring numerous first- and second-year regulars.“Do I feel like this team has what it takes? Yes, I do,” Brees said.Then there are Brees’ ever-deepening ties to New Orleans. He was 27 and childless when he arrived. Now he’s a father of four who turned 39 on Monday.“Certainly, the relationship with this city will always play a strong role in me wanting to be here and … wanting to finish my career here,” Brees said.And there’s no guarantee he’ll have better synergy with any coach than he’s had with Sean Payton.“We have a great history together,” Brees said, recalling how Payton courted him in 2006 while he was still rehabilitating from major throwing-shoulder surgery. “I’m here because he believed in me.”Brees has since passed for 58,097 yards and 408 touchdowns, won a Super Bowl and led New Orleans to six playoff berths. This season, his completion rate of 72 percent set an NFL record.Payton on Tuesday declined to discuss how the team will address Brees’ contract, saying now is “not the time.”But letting Brees go would be costly for New Orleans 鈥?financially and on the field.Brees’ contract technically runs through 2018, but voids automatically when the new league year begins on March 14. That was done for two reasons. The Saints received salary cap flexibility they needed in 2016 by spreading Brees’ guaranteed money over two more years. Brees gained leverage because the Saints lose $18 million in salary cap space in 2018 if they fail to re-sign him.That’s given Brees confidence that an extension is inevitable.“I don’t plan on this being something that goes until March 14th,” said Brees
Michael Gallup Jersey Elite , who also spoke about the 2018 Saints as if presuming he’ll be their QB.“We have a great window of opportunity,” Brees said. “I’ve been a part of talented teams in the past, though, that have not lived up to expectations. I’ve also been a part of teams that were just gutsy and gritty, and surpassed expectations.“Bottom line 鈥?success is dependent upon your willingness to work and the way that guys care about one another and the sense of urgency,” Brees continued. “So while I think we do have a talented team, I know that each year you have to go out and prove it.”Several players said they were still struggling to come to grips with the sudden, stunning end of their season on a 61-yard Vikings touchdown as time expired Sunday.“I couldn’t stop thinking about it if I wanted to,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. “Hopefully it’ll be more fuel than anything and I can just go train as hard as I can.”Payton wore a black track suit with Saints emblems on it, as if to symbolize that he is off and running in his effort to build upon the success of 2017.“We have to look at every area we can improve 鈥?every area, not just one specific area,” Payton declared. “There’s nothing promised. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”Three significant contributors are entering free agency: safety Kenny Vaccaro, defensive end Alex Okafor and offensive lineman Senio Kelemete.Meanwhile, 34-year-old right tackle Zach Strief
Denzel Ward Color Rush Jersey , a Week 1 starter who spent most of the season on injured reserve, said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll retire. Strief likely would have to accept a pay cut and possibly a backup role if he returns. He’s due about $3.9 million next season and his successor, 2017 first-round draft choice Ryan Ramczyk, proved this season he was ready to step in. Strief also is rehabilitating from reconstructive knee surgery.“No matter how you feel in the moment, sometimes when you’re in training camp and in your 12th year, you’re like, ‘Man, this is ridiculous. I’m tired of this,'” Strief said. “I felt like I was playing at a high level through training camp, and last year was one of my better years. So I think physically, it’s something I can do. But the reality is there’s as much mental preparation as physical.”.