Phillies avoid 3-game sweep, beat D-backs 7-6

PHOENIX (AP) Cameron Rupp's day was extra special. His father Kevin was in the stands to watch Rupp drive in a career-high four runs and make a game-saving swipe tag at home plate to keep the Philadelphia Phillies in the lead.

The Phillies avoided a series sweep with a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Rupp capped a four-run sixth with a three-run home run off Arizona reliever Keith Hessler, who did not allow a batter to reach base in his two previous outings. Rupp's homer broke a 4-all tie.

''That was the key to the whole game, was his home run,'' Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. ''Cameron had a real nice day. I'm happy for him.''

Rupp drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Cody Asche scored on Rupp's double-play grounder - not an RBI - in the fourth inning. He also made the key defensive play of the game.

The Diamondbacks had cut the lead to two on Welington Castillo's sacrifice fly in the seventh. They made it 7-6 in the eighth on Chris Owings' RBI double, but Owings was thrown out at home plate on a grounder to second base.

Rupp had to reach across his body to make the tag after Cesar Hernandez threw home.

''I did everything I could. Cesar made a great play, got rid of it as quick as he could and I did everything I could to keep him from being safe,'' Rupp said. ''I knew I was fine with where I was positioned. It was just a close play and it all happened so fast.''

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale had lost his challenge earlier in the game, but the umpiring crew went to replay for the play at the plate and upheld the call after a four-minute review.

''I thought he was safe. I guess it wasn't enough evidence,'' Hale said. ''That's what you always hear. That's their excuse. Not enough evidence. That's the way it goes.''

Phillies rookie Aaron Nola pitched five innings for the win. Nola (3-1) allowed four runs and nine hits for his third win in four starts.

The Phillies' bullpen almost gave back the lead. Arizona scored once each in both the seventh and eighth innings before Ken Giles got the last out in the eighth and three in the ninth for his seventh save.

Giles, now 7 for 7 in save chances this season, struck out Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt with runners at the corners to end the eighth and fanned Jamie Romak with a man on to end the game.

''I was trying to get him to do a mistake. On my terms, make him mess up any way I can,'' Giles said of facing Goldschmidt. ''I'm not scared of anybody at all. I'm trying to make them feel intimidated that I'm on the mound. They have to go through me if they want to win this game.''

Goldschmidt had three hits and two RBIs for the Diamondbacks.

In the sixth, Ryan Howard doubled and Jeff Francoeur reached base with a single. Freddy Galvis had a one-out RBI single, then Rupp hit a drive that landed in the right-field seats. That came after Andres Blanco hit a solo home run in the third for Philadelphia.

Arizona's Chase Anderson (5-5) allowed five runs on nine hits. He struck out five and walked one.

PHILS MAKE ROSTER MOVE

Philadelphia optioned RHP David Buchanan to Triple-A Lehigh Valley before Wednesday's game and called up LHP Cesar Jimenez from Triple-A. Buchanan (2-7, 9.00 earned run average) was roughed up for 11 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in Tuesday night's 13-1 Arizona win.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco was out of the lineup because of a left wrist contusion. He was hit by a pitch Tuesday night and Mackanin said Franco will try to hit but he doesn't expect him to be available Friday in Milwaukee.

Diamondbacks: Reliever David Hernandez left the game in the sixth inning with a left ankle contusion after being hit by a line drive off Blanco's bat, but Hale said Hernandez could be fine by Friday . OF Yasmany Tomas (calf tightness) and OF David Peralta (quadriceps tightness) were held out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, but both are expected to be able to play Friday after a Diamondbacks' off day Thursday, manager Chip Hale said. Peralta pinch hit in the ninth and singled. Both players were removed during Tuesday night's game. ... Reliever Randall Delgado was scheduled to pitch in a summer league game in nearby Scottsdale on Wednesday night, and the plan is to send him to Double-A Mobile to pitch this week as he comes back from a sprained ankle. ... P Archie Bradley threw Wednesday morning, working his way back from right shoulder tendinitis. ... C Gerald Laird (back) caught five innings in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Rookie LHP Adam Morgan is scheduled to start Friday at Milwaukee. Morgan is 3-3 with a 4.06 ERA in eight starts this season and has won two of his last three outings.

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray will face the Braves in Atlanta on Friday. Ray has thrown six innings or more eight starts this season. He has never faced the Braves.