Phillies end eight-game losing streak
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel believes Wednesday afternoon's non-waiver trade deadline has been a distraction to his team.
Third baseman Michael Young, the subject of trade speculation, begs to differ. And he proved it Tuesday night, hitting a two-run homer to help the Phillies end an eight-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
John Lannan pitched seven strong innings and Carlos Ruiz hit his first homer of the season -- also a two-run shot -- for the Phils, whose skid had been their longest since September 2011.
"It's been a while for a win," said Young, whose homer was his eighth of the year. "It's nice to get back in front of the home crowd. I don't think they held that (1-8) road trip against us too much. The bottom line is, we needed to get a win."
Young, who went 2-for-4, has been rumored to be headed to a contender. Other Phillies, like pitchers Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon, also might be dealt before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.
"The trade deadline to our team has been a distraction," Manuel said. "A lot of our players, it's played a part in how they think. I'll be glad when it's over."
Young also said he'll be happy when the deadline has passed. But, he added, "It hasn't been a distraction. Between the lines is where I get my peace of mind. I'll be glad when it's over, just for the sake of being over."
One thing is clear to Manuel: The Phillies need to improve. He said before Tuesday's game that his team is "a ways off" from being a serious postseason threat.
"I know we need some help if we're going to be a contender," he said.
Ruiz hit his first homer in 177 at-bats, dating back to Sept. 25, 2012, when he went deep against Washington. It was also the Phillies' first homer in 66 innings, since Chase Utley's blast against the New York Mets on July 20.
Pablo Sandoval drove in two runs for San Francisco, which has lost five straight and eight of nine.
Lannan (3-4) allowed seven hits and three runs. He struck out three and walked two. Manuel called it "a John Lannan game."
"He had some baserunners," the manager said, "but he made some pitches when he had to."
Antonio Bastardo and Justin DeFratus each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
"We couldn't get the offense going," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's been the frustrating thing during the stretch. We keep talking about it. We just have to get the bats going. We've tried everything."
Giants starter Barry Zito (4-8) dropped his fifth straight decision, going 3 1/3 innings and allowing four runs and five hits. He struck out two and walked two.
"I don't feel good about not keeping my team in the game, and wearing out the bullpen," Zito said. "Not getting through five innings is not very good. ... I lost focus on a couple of pitches, and didn't make pitches."
Ruiz's homer, a two-run shot off Zito in the fourth, snapped a 2-2 tie. It came on a 1-1 pitch after John Mayberry Jr. led off the inning with a single.
Young homered two innings later off reliever Guillermo Moscoso. Mayberry, who went 2-for-3, added an RBI double in the seventh.
The Giants had jumped on top when Sandoval drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first. The Phillies answered with two in their half of the inning, on Delmon Young's RBI single and Zito's bases-loaded walk to Mayberry.
Sandoval tied it 2-2 with a run-scoring single in the third.
NOTES: Before the game, the Phillies selected the contract of 3B Cody Asche from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and designated OF Steve Susdorf for assignment. Asche popped to second as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. ... The Giants recalled OF Roger Kieschnick and 1B Brett Pill from Triple-A Fresno, placed IF Tony Abreu on the disabled list and optioned IF Kensuke Tanaka to Fresno. Pill started and went 3-for-4. ... Manuel said All-Star OF Domonic Brown "probably" will miss another week. Brown has been out since July 23 with a concussion. ... Giants C Buster Posey was a late scratch because of illness. ... Manuel is uncertain as to whether Lee will be able to make his next start. He missed last Saturday's start in Detroit because of a stiff neck.