Bradley struggles in return as D’backs fall to Phillies 7-5

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Archie Bradley didn’t flinch when Carlos Ruiz lined a single up the middle in the second inning. That might have been the best sign on an otherwise forgettable night for the Diamondbacks’ rookie right-hander.

Bradley couldn’t get out of the third inning in his first start since suffering a right sinus fracture after taking a line drive off his face on April 28. Bradley allowed four runs and five hits in two-plus innings as Arizona dropped its fourth in five games, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Saturday night.

“He just had a tough night,” Arizona manager Chip Hale said. “He struggled with his command and they hit him. It was not unexpected, coming back after what he went through. It’s tough to get back in a groove after being out so long.”

Asked if getting hit in the face was on his mind, Bradley said: “No, not at all.”

Ruiz’s single wasn’t drilled right at him like the one Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez hit on April 28, but it was a hard-hit ball just to Bradley’s right.

“It’s kind of out of my mind right now,” Bradley said. “To me, that was just a hit. I prepared myself to get ready for this.”

Jeff Francoeur hit a home run and Grady Sizemore had four hits to lead Philadelphia to their fourth straight win in a game that was delayed 1 hour, 17 minutes by rain.

Rookie Yasmany Tomas hit his first major league homer, and Paul Goldschmidt had a two-run homer for Arizona.

“I’m proud of the position players for playing hard all through the game,” Hale said. “It’s not easy with a rain delay to keep playing hard like they did.”

Chase Utley had two hits and two RBIs for the Phillies, who matched their season high in runs and came within a hit of tying their season high. Ryan Howard added a single and a double, and drove in a run.

“I like what I’m seeing, and it’s coming from different guys,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Philadelphia entered ranked at or near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, including last in runs (107), home runs (19) and RBIs (103). The Phillies have averaged 4.5 runs during the streak.

Jerome Williams (3-3) allowed three runs — two earned — in five innings and seven hits to snap a two-game losing skid. Williams had allowed nine earned runs in his last 9 1/3 innings. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save.

Francoeur homered to left in the second to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, and they scored three in the third to go up four runs. Bradley didn’t get any of the five batters he faced in the frame out, surrendering a pair of walks, a double and two singles. Howard had an RBI double and Hale replaced Bradley after Utley’s RBI single.

Utley is 3-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs since moving down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order Friday, as Sandberg made the change to break the six-time All-Star out of a season-long slump. Utley raised his average to .138.

“Little clearing of the mind and relaxation,” Sandberg said.

The light rain turned heavy just after Bradley departed, forcing a lengthy delay. Upon returning, J.C. Ramirez got Francoeur to hit into a double play and Ruiz to line out to limit further damage.

Arizona got a run back in the fourth on Nick Ahmed’s RBI single and two in the fifth on Goldschmidt’s 10th homer of the season. But the Phillies responded with three runs in the fifth on RBI doubles by Utley, Ruiz and pinch-hitter Andres Blanco to take a 7-3 lead.

Tuffy Gosewisch’s RBI single in the sixth and Tomas’ solo shot to right in the eighth capped Arizona’s scoring.

The Diamondbacks used six pitchers. Addison Reed, demoted from the closer’s role Friday, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.

AHMED’S ERRORS

Ahmed entered second in the league in fielding (.992), but made two fielding errors, both on groundballs by Williams. The Diamondbacks began the day tied for first in the majors with just 13 errors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Infielder Aaron Hill (illness) was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day. Hill flew out in the fourth as a pinch-hitter.

Phillies: CF Ben Revere got the night off after batting .176 (6-for-34) in his last eight games.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Josh Collmenter (3-4, 5.27) looks to continue his road success in the series finale at Philadelphia on Sunday. Collmenter is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in two starts this season away from Chase Field.

Phillies: RHP Sean O’Sullivan (0-2, 5.06) opposes Collmenter and will be vying for his first victory in more than four years.