Major League Baseball

Maikel Franco hits 2 home runs; Phillies lose to O's

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:32 p.m. ET

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SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) Maikel Franco, the league's home-run leader in spring training, hit two more and drove in four runs Monday in the Philadelphia Phillies' 8-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

''Last year I was fighting for a position. I think I tried too much,'' said Franco, who has six home runs and 14 RBIs in 11 games this spring. ''Now I just feel comfortable, I know I'm going to be in the lineup every single day, and that's made me more patient, more relaxed.''

Both of his homers came off Yovani Gallardo, who allowed three homers in 2 1/3 innings in his second start. He's allowed four overall in spring training.

''It's the first time I've seen him. Obviously seems like he's got a pretty good idea idea up at the plate. Seems like he takes advantages of mistakes,'' Gallardo said.

Tyler Goeddel led the off the game by taking a Gallardo pitch deep - Goeddel's first home run of the spring.

Baltimore's Manny Machado and Adam Jones homered for the second time this spring, and Paul Janish hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Orioles an 8-7 lead.

STARTING TIME

Phillies: Alec Asher allowed four runs on four hits in three innings for the Phillies.

Orioles: Gallardo said that he realized by signing a week into spring training, he'd be somewhat behind. In two starts, he's given up eight runs on eight hits. ''You're facing big-league hitters and you're trying to get yourself ready with your mechanics. The most important thing is try not to get frustrated. It is tough, but you've just got to remember it's spring and you've got a long ways to go,'' Gallardo said.

TRAINER'S ROOM:

Phillies: OF Odubel Herrera had an X-ray on his right middle finger, which turned out to be negative. He is day-to-day. ... OF Cody Asche remains day-to-day with a strained right oblique. ... RHP David Hernandez hasn't pitched since March 1 because of a right triceps injury.

Orioles: C Matt Wieters had an MRI on his right elbow, which flared up Saturday in the first inning. ''It looked good structurally,'' manager Buck Showalter said. ''I know Matt felt good about it today.'' ... LHP T.J. McFarland, who hasn't pitched since March 6 because of a tender left elbow, will pitch in a game either Tuesday or Wednesday, Showalter said.

MOVING ON:

Phillies: SS J.P. Crawford and OF Nick Williams were reassigned to minor league camp. RHP Edubray Ramos and OF Roman Quinn were optioned to Double-A Reading.

Orioles: RHP Hunter Harvey was reassigned to minor league camp. LHP Chris Jones was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, andRHP Jason Garcia was optioned to Double-A Bowie.

UP NEXT:

Phillies: Will visit Tampa Bay on Tuesday with right-hander Aaron Nola facing the Rays' left-hander Drew Smyly, who has yet to allow a run in two starts.

Orioles: Right-hander Chris Tillman will make his spring-training debut Tuesday at Toronto against Jesse Chavez. Tillman missed his first start with a strained right hip flexor and pitched a ''B'' game last week.

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