Ben Francisco’s 2-run single in 8th lifts Phillies over Marlins 10-8

Francisco’s single lifts Phils over Marlins 10-8

PHILADELPHIA — Ben Francisco hit a two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 10-8 victory over the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.

While phenom Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in his much-anticipated debut for the Washington Nationals, highly touted slugger Mike Stanton was 3 for 5 with two infield singles and scored twice in his first game for Florida.

Brad Lidge pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his third save in three tries. He retired Ronny Paulino on an infield popup to end it.

Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino homered for the struggling Phillies, who scored more than three runs for just the third time in the last 16 games. Raul Ibanez had four hits.

They overcame deficits of 4-0 and 6-3 in their best offensive performance since a 12-2 win over Pittsburgh on May 17. The two-time defending NL champions are just 7-13 since that win.

Gaby Sanchez and Hanley Ramirez went deep for the Marlins, who have lost four in a row.

Jose Contreras (3-2) allowed an RBI triple to pinch-hitter Wes Helms that gave Florida an 8-7 lead in the eighth.

But the Phillies answered in the bottom half. Clay Hensley (1-3) retired the first batter before walking Placido Polanco and hitting Chase Utley with a pitch.

Taylor Tankersley entered and Howard moved the runners up with a groundout. Then Francisco, filling in for the struggling Jayson Werth, lined a single to left-center to score both runners. Wilson Valdez drove in an insurance run on an infield single.

The starters had nearly identical lines. Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick allowed six runs — five earned — and six hits in five innings. Chris Volstad gave up six runs — five earned — and eight hits in four-plus innings for the Marlins.

Stanton batted seventh and played right field in his debut. He impressed the Marlins during spring training with his power but was sent to Double-A Jacksonville for seasoning. The 20-year-old slugger dominated the Southern League, hitting .311 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs in 52 games to earn the promotion to the majors.

Utley’s sacrifice fly off Jorge Sosa gave the Phillies a 7-6 lead in the sixth. Jorge Cantu hit a tying RBI double off Chad Durbin in the seventh.

The Marlins scored in each of the first four innings off Kendrick, starting with Sanchez’s solo shot to left in the first. Paulino had an RBI double in the second.

Sanchez reached safely on Howard’s error at first base in the third, one pitch before Ramirez crushed a two-run shot to left for a 4-0 lead.

The Phillies answered with three, two-out runs in the bottom half to cut it to 4-3. Howard hit an opposite-field drive to left-center and Ibanez had an RBI single.

Chris Coghlan’s two-run single put the Marlins ahead 6-3 in the fourth. Victorino’s solo shot in the bottom half got the Phillies within two runs.

The Phillies tied it in the fifth on an RBI single by Ibanez and a run-scoring grounder by Valdez.

NOTES: Stanton is the second-youngest player to debut with the Marlins at 20 years, 212 days. Miguel Cabrera was 20 years, 63 days when he came up in 2003. … Phillies LHP J.A. Happ allowed two runs and three hits in three innings in his first rehab appearance at Class-A Clearwater. Happ has been sidelined by a left forearm strain since April 16. … Victorino is four homers from matching his career high of 14 set in 2008. … Ibanez had his first four-hit game since May 15, 2009. … A crowd of 44,098 was the 70th consecutive sellout at Citizens Bank Park.