• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Francisco beats Oakland with 9th-inning hit

Jun 25, 2011 - 3:56 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ben Francisco's game-winning, pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth gave Philadelphia a 1-0 victory over Oakland in the first of a three-game interleague series.

Brian Fuentes (1-8) took the loss when he allowed the game-deciding run as the A's dropped their third straight contest.

Michael Stutes (3-0) threw a perfect top of the ninth to earn the win, the Phillies' fourth in six games.

It was a game that saw both starters turn in five hitless innings. It was the first game this season with double no-hitters through five innings, after there were two such games last year.

Guillermo Moscoso allowed two hits and three walks while fanning two through seven scoreless innings for Oakland.

"We played pretty good baseball tonight, but we've got to get a win. It was a tough loss for us," said Moscoso.

Philadelphia starter Vance Worley tossed six shutout frames, walking four while allowing just one hit. He also struck out four.

Shane Victorino led off the ninth with a walk and was followed two batters later by a single by Domonic Brown to put a runner in scoring position for just the second time in the game for the Phillies. A Brian Schneider groundout moved both runners up a base to set the table for Francisco.

Francisco worked himself into a 2-0 count and then hit a high bouncer towards third base. But Scott Sizemore was playing up on the grass and the ball sailed over his head into left field, allowing Victorino to easily trot home to end the game.

"Luckily, I got it over (the third baseman's) head. I was trying to put a good swing on the ball, try to hit it hard somewhere," said Francisco. "Anytime you get a walkoff win, it's exciting for everybody."

Hideki Matsui's two-out double in the sixth inning was the first hit for either team. Matsui laced an 0-2 fastball into the left-center field gap. Victorino had a good break on the ball and made a diving effort, but the ball bounced short of his glove. Matsui was stranded there, though, as Worley retired the next batter, Conor Jackson, on a liner to the outfield.

The Phillies then snapped Moscoso's no-hit bid with one out in the bottom of the inning on Placido Polanco's bloop single into shallow center field. He was also not allowed to advance any further after Chase Utley flew out to left and a Ryan Howard grounder to short ended the inning.

Game Notes

Philadelphia placed pitcher Roy Oswalt on the 15-day disabled list, activated catcher Brian Schneider off the 15-day disabled list, recalled pitcher Scott Mathieson from Lehigh Valley, outrighted catcher Dane Sardinha to Lehigh Valley and released pitcher J.C. Romero on Friday...Worley threw 64 of his 105 pitches for strikes and Moscoso threw 65 of his 106 pitches for strikes.