Halladay wins again as Rangers lose to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – Elvis Andrus stole home in the first inning to scratch out a run against Roy Halladay.

When the Rangers got aggressive again in the ninth, it cost them.

Andrus stole home on a delayed double steal for the first run, but David Murphy was thrown out trying to steal second base to end the game, costing Texas in a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

"I didn't get a good jump, but I don't think it matters," Murphy said. "I was in there, but they called me out."

Ben Francisco and Raul Ibanez homered, and Halladay (6-3) struck out seven and walked one for the NL East-leading Phillies.

Francisco hit a two-run shot in the second inning and Ibanez hit a solo homer in the fourth to give Halladay the support he needed to end a personal two-game losing streak. Halladay lost consecutive complete games because the Phillies failed to score more than two runs in either start.

"I don't think you can think about it," Halladay said. "I think if you go out there trying to win the game yourself or do too much or feel like you can't make mistakes, it compounds the problem."

C.J. Wilson (4-3) had an otherwise strong outing for Texas, striking out 10 in seven innings. Wilson fanned seven batters over the first three innings — four straight over the first and second. He allowed both homers with two outs in the inning.

"He made two pitches he'd like to have back," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Ryan Madson, who took a liner off his pitching hand, worked the ninth for his eighth save.

Three runs could almost be considered a slugfest the way the Phillies have been slumping at the plate. They lost five of six coming into the game and hadn't scored more than three runs in any of them. The lone game they won over that stretch was a 2-1 win against Colorado. The Rockies responded by pounding the Phillies 7-1 on Thursday.

Halladay at least keeps them in the game, even when the bats go cold. He did it again, never letting the Rangers get a serious rally going after they scratched for a run in the first.

"It's been a tough stretch, I think we're all aware of that," Halladay said.

One unlikely candidate sparked the Phillies.

Francisco made it 2-1 with his first homer since April 16. Francisco was in a horrible 3-for-36 slump with one RBI in his last 15 games.

"It's baseball. You're going to go through slumps," Francisco said. "I feel good now. I feel I've worked on my swing a lot lately. Just keep hitting."

He started in right field and John Mayberry Jr., was in center — needed changes after the Phillies placed center fielder Shane Victorino on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

The Phillies recalled outfielder — and top prospect — Domonic Brown from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 23-year-old started the season on the DL after breaking his right hand early in spring training.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel expects to start Brown in Saturday's game against Colby Lewis.

Brown's addition doesn't bother Francisco.

"It's on me to go out there and play well," he said.

Ibanez homered to center to continue the hot streak he's been on since his 0-for-35 drought. He's hitting .375 (21 for 56) since the longest hitless skid of his career.

His slump has been transferred to Ryan Howard. The slugging first baseman went 0 for 3 and is mired in an 0-for-23 funk. Howard is still a threat, though. The Rangers intentionally walked him with a runner on second and two outs in the eighth. Mayberry grounded out to end the rally.

Andrus led off the game with a single and advanced to third on Mitch Moreland's single. Moreland stole second and Andrus bolted for home on catcher Carlos Ruiz's throw.

"Any time you're in a game against a guy like him, you have to go for it," Washington said. "We had Elvis at third, went for it and made it."

Endy Chavez led off the eighth with a pinch-hit double and scored on Moreland's groundout to make it 3-2.

Notes: Washington said reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton (broken arm) is "a possibility" to play Monday. ... The Rangers stole home for the 27th time. ... The Rangers snapped an eight-game road winning streak in interleague play.