Orioles Beat Phillies 8-7
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco hit his major league-leading ninth homer of spring training, but Garabez Rosa hit a tying homer in the ninth inning for Baltimore and then another run scored on a wild pitch to give the Orioles an 8-7 win over Philadelphia on Friday night.
Ryan Flaherty scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Dalier Hinojosa. Xavier Avery and Steve Tolleson each hit two-run homers for the Orioles.
Franco launched an upper-deck shot to left that measured 449 feet. The slugging Phillies third baseman has shown he is completely healed from a fractured left wrist that shortened his rookie campaign last season when he batted .280 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs in 304 at-bats.
"I'm in a good moment right now," Franco said. "I want to stay positive with my routine, have fun and enjoy the game. Monday I have to be ready."
Darin Ruf and Ryan Howard also went deep for Philadelphia, which hosts a contingent of Phillies minor leaguers on Saturday before traveling to Cincinnati for Monday's season opener. Odubel Herrera added three hits.
Aaron Nola started and allowed one unearned run over three innings for Philadelphia with five strikeouts.
Baltimore opens the regular season at home against Minnesota on Monday.
Ruf's solo homer off Pedro Beato put the Phillies ahead in the eighth.
Ashur Tolliver pitched out of trouble in the ninth, stranding runners on second and third, for his first save.
Howard went deep to the opposite field for his third homer of the spring. Earlier on Friday, Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin announced that Howard would start the season platooning at first base with Ruf.
Mackanin said Howard accepted the platoon but added, "He's not crazy about the idea."
The game was delayed 47 minutes by rain.
FOR STARTERS
Orioles: Vance Worley allowed one run on three hits in two innings in his final chance to impress Baltimore brass. The right-hander threw 34 pitches, 20 for strikes.
Worley's role -- if he'll even have one -- is up in the air. He could be the No. 5 starter, have a bullpen spot or even be out of a job come Monday.
"Until I'm told something, I'm just going to assume I'm still here, so that's a good thing," he said. "I'm not going to think too far ahead until I get a handshake that says, `Good job. You're here."'
Phillies: Nola was sharp while facing 13 batters. The right-hander threw 34 of his 53 pitches for strikes before the rain halted his outing.
"Of course, I wanted to go a little longer," Nola said. "I felt good. All my pitches felt good."
KIM UPDATE
South Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim grounded into a fielder's choice in the eighth inning, dropping his average to .177.
Kim signed a two-year, $7 million deal in the offseason presumably to be the Orioles' everyday left fielder. After his subpar spring, though, Baltimore would like Kim to start the season in Triple-A. Kim has yet to consent to the move, and the club has until noon on Sunday to keep him on the 25-man roster or waive him if Kim won't report to Triple-A.
RICKARD ROLLS
Joey Rickard had an RBI single in his only at-bat. Rickard entered Friday tied for the American League lead with 24 hits this spring. A Rule 5 draft pick in the offseason, Rickard has made the club's opening day roster and is one reason the Orioles are eager to send Kim to the minors.
SAFE AT FIRST
First-base umpire Chris Conroy slid on his backside on the wet grass while running down the right field line in the fourth inning. The fans gave Conroy a loud mock cheer.
GONZALEZ RELEASED
The Phillies released right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, whom they signed for $12 million in 2013. The Cuban native was hampered by injuries and appeared in just six games for Philadelphia, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
ROSTER MOVES
Orioles: Baltimore reassigned Beato, OF L.J. Hoes, INF Paul Janish, RHP Todd Redmond and Tolleson to minor league camp after the game. They optioned C Francisco Pena to Triple-A Norfolk and outrighted LHP Zach Phillips and RHP Chaz Roe to Norfolk.
Phillies: C J.P. Arencibia, OF Will Venable and right-handers Andrew Bailey and Ernesto Frieri will not be on the club's opening day roster, Mackanin said after the game.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Host Twins at 3:05 p.m. on Monday in season opener. Baltimore RHP Chris Tillman opposes Minnesota RHP Ervin Santana.
Phillies: Host a minor league contingent from Phillies farm system at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday. RHP Charlie Morton starts for the Phillies against RHP Jake Thompson.
(Copyright 2016 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
