SAN DIEGO - Maikel Franco stabbed the bouncer toward third and immediately knew he had a chance. He scampered four steps to third base and fired to second, where Cesar Hernandez waited. Hernandez, without shuffling his feet, threw to beat Padres outfielder Jabari Blash by a half step at first. It was pristine baseball, the sort of play from schoolyard dreams.
A 5-4-3 triple play.
The Phillies won, 6-5, and it did not feel secure Sunday until the seventh inning when they turned their first triple play in seven years to preserve a tenuous lead. Jerad Eickhoff surrendered a sizable lead, Tommy Joseph put his team back ahead with a pinch-hit single, and Edubray Ramos somehow survived two walks to begin the seventh.