Following a 15-hit, seven-run effort from his team on Thursday afternoon that ended its nine-game losing streak, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin made three changes to his lineup for the series opener against the Giants in San Francisco on Friday night.
One of Mackanin's changes is enforced; with the Phillies shifting back to National League play, starter Zach Eflin hits ninth.
Ryan Howard, who filled the DH spot in Minnesota, plays first base and receives another start versus a righty, one in which he has nine career at-bats against (see game notes).
It marks Howard's fourth straight start. He's 3 for 9 over his last two games with a homer and two RBIs. Tommy Joseph is not in the lineup. He was a late scratch Thursday because of illness.
After starting in six straight games, Andres Blanco gets the night off. The extremely versatile Blanco was the Phillies' first baseman on Thursday.
Cameron Rupp, one of the Phillies' more productive hitters over their recent abysmal stretch, with two homers in his last two starts, comes back into the lineup for Carlos Ruiz.
Phillies lineup
1. Odubel Herrera, CF
2. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Cameron Rupp, C
6. Cody Asche, LF
7. Freddy Galvis, SS
8. Peter Bourjos, RF
9. Zach Eflin, P
Philadelphia Phillies
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Giants lineup
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Joe Panik, 2B
3. Brandon Belt, 1B
4. Brandon Crawford, SS
5. Angel Pagan, LF
6. Gregor Blanco, LF
7. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
8. Trevor Brown, C
9. Jake Peavy, P
