Rookie Outfielder Leads Phillies Past Pirates 6-2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Roman Quinn had two hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and made a big impression in his second major league game, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
A day after he was promoted to the big leagues, Quinn hit second and played right field in his second straight start. Quinn, an accomplished base stealer and the Phillies' second-round draft pick in 2011, could be a fixture in the outfield next season.
With the Phillies long out of contention, manager Pete Mackanin is likely to take a long look in September at a player who could become a starter in 2017 when they hope to inch toward contention.
Quinn doubled in the second and sixth innings to help the Phillies snap a seven-game home losing streak.
Quinn's two-run double in the second one-hopped the wall as part of a five-run inning that made it a short night for Pirates starter Gerrit Cole (7-10).
The 26-year-old Cole allowed five runs in two innings in his first start off the disabled list. He was sidelined with elbow inflammation and hoped his return could boost a Pirates team that is all but out of the NL wild-card race.
Cole threw 29 of his 55 pitches for strikes - and two of his Ks were against Ryan Howard.
Once one of the most feared hitters in baseball, Howard is limping toward the finish line of his final season with the Phillies. He entered hitting .195 and each hitless game puts even a measly .200 average out of reach.
Howard's failure this season put pressure on others around him to produce, notably Maikel Franco. Franco was fantastic in 80 games last season and showed just enough (14 homers, .280) at the plate to show he could be the third baseman of the future.
He still might be, but a .247 average and 22 homers in 133 games showed he felt the pressure of trying to handle Howard's role as the slugger in the middle of the lineup.
"In his mind, he's the guy and he's trying to do too much damage," Mackanin said. "He tried to take on too much of a role."
Phillies centerfielder Odubel Herrera also has slumped in the second half - the All-Star saw an average that reached .319 through 51 games dip to .275 on Monday.
It's one more reason the Phillies want to play Quinn in September. He had his first career stolen base (he stole 31 for Double-A Reading) in the first inning to ignite his night.
Mackanin said Herrera would stay in the center for the rest of the season. He would make a decision on where the outfielders play in spring training.
"We'll look at the whole picture at the end of the season and, in the spring, we'll make the decision and see what we got," Mackanin said. "We'll see what makes the most sense. I'd like to see (Quinn) at all three positions."
Jeremy Hellickson (11-9) struck out six and allowed an unearned run over 6 1/3 innings for the win. Freddy Galvis hit his 18th homer of the season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: 2B Josh Harrison will likely miss the rest of the season with a strained right groin. Harrison was injured Saturday after legging out a two-run double. In 131 games this season, Harrison is hitting .283 with four home runs and 19 stolen bases.
Harrison was expected to miss four to six weeks, which would cost him the rest of the season. But he hoped he could return if the sub.-500 Pirates made the postseason.
"There's still a chance if we make a run, you may see me back if we somehow find our way," he said.
UP NEXT:
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (5-0, 2.53 ERA) pitches Tuesday night in the second game of the series. He has 32 strikeouts and walked only two in his first seven starts for the Pirates since he was acquired from the New York Yankees on Aug. 1. He tossed a complete game against the Reds in his last start.
Phillies: RHP Alec Asher (1-0) makes his second start of the season in his return from an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs. Asher tossed six scoreless innings in a win against the Nationals. The Phillies acquired Asher last year from Texas in the Cole Hamels deal.
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