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David Buchanan leads Philadelphia Phillies to win, then gets demoted

By Gordie Jones, The Sports Xchange
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher David Buchanan (55) pitches. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher David Buchanan (55) pitches. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

PHILADELPHIA -- David Buchanan ended a personal eight-game losing streak Monday night.

The Philadelphia Phillies rewarded the right-hander with a trip back to the minor leagues.

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Buchanan, winless over his previous 15 starts, allowed three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings as the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3.

He received word after the game that he was being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

"That's never something you want to hear, but it does taste better," he said. "It makes it a little sweeter, knowing that at least I kind of left with a good taste in my mouth, but it still stinks to go down at all."

His winless streak, which was the longest active skid in the major leagues, dated back to Aug. 6, 2014, when he beat the Houston Astros.

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Buchanan (1-5) struck out four and walked three Monday.

He wasn't aware of the length of the winless streak until he was informed of it after the game.

"That really wasn't my concern," he said. "I just wanted to go out there and continue to pitch and pound that (strike) zone. ... It's definitely good to get that out of the way."

Interim manager Pete Mackanin said Buchanan took his demotion in stride.

"He understood it," Mackanin said. "We explained to him he wasn't going to be happy with it, especially with the way he pitched tonight. He pitched extremely well. But he gets it."

Buchanan's demotion clears a roster spot for the promotion of right-hander Aaron Nola, who will make his major league debut Tuesday against the Rays.

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez hit a two-run double for the Phillies, whose four-game winning streak is their longest since they won six straight from May 13-18. They are 4-0 after the All-Star break for the first time since 2009, when they won their first five after the break.

Jonathan Papelbon, the last of five Philadelphia pitchers, worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save in as many opportunities. It was also the 341st of his career, tying Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers for 12th on the all-time list.

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Tampa Bay lost for the 10th time in its past 12 road games.

"We didn't pitch well and we didn't hit well," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We didn't do much to win the game. ... We had some opportunities. It's kind of becoming a broken record."

Rays starter Matt Moore, in his fourth appearance after missing most of last year following Tommy John surgery, allowed four runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings to take the loss. Moore (1-1) struck out three and walked three, with all the walks coming in the Phillies' three-run second inning.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead on a two-run double by second baseman Logan Forsythe in the second, but Moore walked the first two batters he faced in the bottom of that inning and allowed the Phillies to load the bases with one out.

He retired catcher Cameron Rupp on a foul pop but threw a wild pitch, allowing right fielder Jeff Francoeur to score. Buchanan walked to reload the bases.

Hernandez then lashed a double to left, chasing in two runs and putting the Phillies ahead 3-2.

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"A starting pitcher has to do a better job there," Moore said. "We had a 2-0 lead. I wanted to keep them off the board, and they got a three-spot."

Hernandez also tripled with one out in the fifth, and he scored when third baseman Maikel Franco, the first batter to face reliever Alex Colomoe, lined a single high off the left field wall.

First baseman Darin Ruf added an RBI single later in the inning, increasing Philadelphia's lead to 5-2.

Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier led off the seventh with a triple and scored one out later on a single by pinch hitter Brandon Guyer, cutting the gap to 5-3 and ending Buchanan's night.

Four Philadelphia relievers struck out five while pitching 2 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings.

Franco left the game after injuring his right elbow while making a diving stop of an grounder by Rays shortstop Tim Beckham. The severity of the injury was not immediately known.

NOTES: The Phillies placed RHP Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right elbow. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the extent of the injury will not be known until the results of an MRI are revealed, but the injury could be season-ending. ... The Phillies also officially announced the recall of RHP Aaron Nola from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He will make his major league debut with a start against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. ... Philadelphia RHP Jerome Williams, on the disabled list since May 17 with a strained left hamstring, also was activated. ... Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley (inflamed right ankle) is increasing baseball activities and will go on a rehab assignment in the next week or so, according to Amaro. ... Rays OF Steve Souza Jr. (right finger laceration) played his second rehab game Sunday for Class A Charlotte. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. ... Tampa Bay LHP Drew Smyly (torn left labrum) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Tuesday in Port Charlotte, Fla.

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