Phillies’ streak intact despite Giant brawl
SAN FRANCISCO -- Philadelphia's Shane Victorino and San Francisco's Ramon Ramirez and Eli Whiteside were ejected after benches cleared in the top of the sixth inning of the Phillies' 9-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday.
John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer for his second clout in as many games, and Vance Worley (8-1) won his sixth straight decision as the Phillies ran their winning streak to a season-best eight games.
Victorino and Hunter Pence also homered for the majors-best Phillies, who haven't lost since the Giants took two of three from them last week. San Francisco has dropped seven of eight during the same span.
These teams have become quite the rivals after the Giants beat the favored Phillies in six games of the National League Championship Series last fall on the way to winning the franchise's first World Series since moving West in 1958.
Tempers flared after Ramirez hit Victorino in the back with a pitch. Victorino began walking toward the mound and Whiteside, the catcher, stepped in front of him. Placido Polanco raced in from second base and was tackled by Whiteside.
Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff was in the middle of the scrum, and Phillies leadoff man Jimmy Rollins shoved San Francisco bench coach Ron Wotus as they exchanged words. Victorino pushed plate umpire Mike Muchlinski trying to get back into the fray, then was held back by Wotus and Phillies hitting coach Greg Gross.
The umpiring crew met for several minutes once things settled down, then made the ejections.
