Rupp's Homer Lifts Phillies Over Giants, 3-2
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Cameron Rupp thought he drew a walk. Instead, he got the chance to get a big hit.
Rupp chased Madison Bumgarner with a two-run homer in Philadelphia's three-run seventh inning, helping the Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Saturday night.
"Yeah I would have taken the walk," Rupp said. "The end result was OK. If I made out, I might not be as happy."
Andres Blanco singled in Tommy Joseph before Rupp connected for his seventh homer. Joseph had two hits for Philadelphia, which had lost 10 of 11.
"I crushed it," Rupp said. "I don't know if you do feel it. With the adrenaline, the time of game and against a guy like that. He dominated us the first six innings. Even that 3-1 pitch was a good pitch. There was not a whole lot I could have done with it. Then he left one up."
Bumgarner (8-4) carried a two-hitter into the seventh and then allowed three hits to the first four batters he faced in the inning, including Rupp's shot over the wall in center. The left-hander struck out seven and walked one.
"I've got to come in the zone, I don't want to put the go-ahead run on base, so I just had to go after him and he got us," Bumgarner said. "It wasn't a great pitch but I didn't want to walk him either."
Bumgarner allowed more than two earned runs in a game for the first time since giving up four to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 15, a span of 12 starts.
Jeremy Hellickson (5-6) ended a personal four-game losing streak, winning for the first time since May 18. He gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
"He got into a nice rhythm until his back starting acting up," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Otherwise I would have left him in there he was pitching so well."
Hellickson said he felt it on his last swing of an at bat.
"I was trying to swing so hard, I don't know why," he said. "I can't even see the ball out of that guy's hand."
Jeanmar Gomez pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.
The Giants had beaten the Phillies in 13 of their previous 16 meetings. They fell to 18-9 in one-run games.
San Francisco got to Hellickson for one in the second and the third. Buster Posey scampered home when Gregor Blanco reached on first baseman Joseph's error, and then Posey added a sacrifice fly in the third.
EARLY WORK
The Phillies went through early defensive work for the second straight day, an effort Mackanin said was a reminder defense was also important. "We're playing really sloppy in a lot of areas," he said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Vince Velasquez will start Monday's game at Arizona. He has been on the disabled list with a right biceps strain since June 9.
Giants: RHP Sergio Romo (right flexor sprain) will pitch in a rehab assignment for Single-A San Jose on Sunday. A decision on his future is expected afterward.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola takes the mound for the series finale. He has lost three straight and has a 15.22 ERA over that stretch, a span of 9 2/3 innings. He is making his first appearance against the Giants.
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto has a career-high eight-game winning streak and the Giants have won 13 of his 15 starts. Cueto is 1-4 with a 5.05 ERA against the Phillies in nine career starts.
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