Phillies Spring Training: Yankees 7 Ben Francisco 3

Ben Francisco was responsible for all three Phillies runs as they were defeated by the Yankees 7-3 in spring training action. Francisco finished the day with a home run, double and three RBIs while boosting his claim on the starting right field job. Francisco is locked in a battle with rookie Domonic Brown for the spot. Brown was hitless in three at bats today with three strikeouts.

Joe Blanton got the start for the Phils and looked very strong. He walked the leadoff batter, but didn’t allow a hit or a run from that point over three innings of work. Justin De Fratus and Michael Schwimmer followed Blanton and both were roughed up to the tune of 6 total runs. Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero both threw scoreless innings in their first work of the spring, while Brad Lidge came on in the 9th and surrendered a run.

As with all these early spring training games the individual performances is what matters. Blanton’s strong outing is good news for the Phils whether it means he drums up interest around the league or just has a good year as the 5th starter. Plus, the Francisco vs Brown battle for RF is getting interesting with Francisco taking the early lead.

Chase Utley will sit out his second straight spring training game as the Phillies host the Yankees today in their Florida home at Brighthouse Field. Charlie Manuel told reporters yesterday that Utley is a "couple days" away. Several other Phillies who didn't play yesterday however, will return to the lineup. Most notably Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz. Joe Blanton will start for the Phils today.

It's interesting that Polanco is hitting fifth today. Charlie Manuel was expected to experiment with his lineup this spring as he tries to figure out how to replace Jayson Werth in the 5 hole. Last season, Polanco hit in the two spot, but as maybe the only notable right handed bat in the lineup Charlie may look to use him to break up the lefty parade of Utley, Howard, Ibanez & Brown. That would likely mean that Shane Victorino would occupy the #2 hole.

So if you replace Ibanez with Utley at #3 and have Ibanez at #6 pushing the rest of the lineup a spot, this could very well be your opening day lineup.

1. Jimmy Rollins SS

2. Shane Victorino CF

3. Raul Ibanez LF

4. Ryan Howard 1B

5. Placido Polanco 3B

6. Domonic Brown RF

7. Ben Francisco DH

8. Carlos Ruiz C

9. Wilson Valdez 2B

In keeping with Spring Training strangeness, it was Dane Sardinha whose 2-RBI double off Eric Wordekemper that won the first preseason game of the year against a major league opponent. Then, Jason Grilli, who doesn’t even have a number yet, came in to record the final three outs for the save.

Brian Schlitter, who was notoriously traded to the Cubs for lefty Scott Eyre and is now back with the organization, got the win despite allowing two runs in his inning of work. Cole Hamels looked pretty decent for his first outing, the only blemish being a Francisco Cervelli double and unearned run in the 2nd. Vance Worley, a candidate for the 5th starter spot should the unlikely event of Joe Blanton being traded actually happen, hit 96 on the gun and went two scoreless innings. Ryan Feierabend and Mike Zagurski also got some work in on the day.

Without Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Placido Polanco, the infield took a bit of patchworking but it came together rather nicely. Josh Barfield went 2-2 in his first appearance as a Phillie. He’s certainly a candidate for utility infield spot behind (or in front of) Wilson Valdez. Round 1 between Ben Francisco and Domonic Brown goes to Ben-Fran, who walked and tripled in his two times up.

It’s always good to get a win against the Yanks, even in the Spring. And since it’s baseball, we get to do it again tomorrow.

Ben Francisco got an early start in trying to get the edge over Domonic Brown, by taking a Bartolo Colon pitch the other way for a base hit. Nick Swisher couldn’t cut it off, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall and putting Francisco on third to lead off the inning. Dom followed with a walk and put camp invite Jeff Larish up with runners at the corners. He swung at the first pitch he saw, tapping it to short and starting the 6-4-3 double play, which scored Ben-Fran for the first run of the game. Brian Schneider ended the inning by grounding out to first.

Larish is playing for Placido Polanco, who should get his first start in tomorrow’s game. Carlos Ruiz should also be seen tomorrow catching at Steinbrenner Field.

1-0 Phils. Hamels back on the mound for the bottom of the inning.

Fittingly, the first televised Spring Training game started with Bartolo Colon getting Pete Orr to ground out.

What?

Well, after Jimmy Rollins took a late scratch, Orr got the call to begin the Phillies 2011 World Series campaign. Ryan Gload knocked a base hit up the middle but was stranded after Raul Ibanez inside-outed a fly ball to left and Ryan Howard’s drive was caught at the wall by Brett Gardner.

On the flip side, Cole Hamels induced a slow grounder from Derek Jeter before striking out the thoroughly unlikeable Nick Swisher. He hit Mark Teixeira on the foot for good measure, then Alex Rodriguez hit a shot to deep center that fell into Ben Francisco’s glove just short of the wall. End of inning.

Man it’s great to see baseball again.

Per Ryan Lawrence, Jimmy Rollins has been scratched from today’s spring training opener. He’ll be replaced at SS by Wilson Valdez, while Pete Orr will play second in place of Chase Utley. Rollins’ scratch isn’t a result of an injury, he actually just arrived back in camp this morning after spending the last two days at the White House for a motown tribute.

1. Pete Orr, 2B
2. Ross Gload, DH
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Ben Francisco, CF
6. Domonic Brown, RF
7. Jeff Larish, 3B
8. Brian Schneider, C
9. Wilson Valdez, SS