After two games as a pinch hitter, Maikel Franco returned to the Phillies’ starting lineup Tuesday in a rare spot: eighth.
Franco then turned in one of his better outings of the season. Not only did he make a game-saving defensive play in the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Orioles, but he also reached base on three of his four plate appearances, going 2 for 3 with an intentional walk and a run scored. That performance was no coincidence, theorized manager Gabe Kapler, who promptly slotted Franco into the same spot again for Wednesday afternoon’s homestand finale.