Franco ties it, Ruf wins it as Phils rally past Reds

Philadelphia, PA -- Maikel Franco tied the game with a two- run homer in the eighth and pinch-hitter Darin Ruf won it in the ninth with an RBI single, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies over the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on a rainy Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The Reds appeared to be headed to the ninth with a 4-2 lead, but Jay Bruce misplayed Ryan Howard's two-out double. Franco followed with a blast down the left-field line.

"I just couldn't see it," Bruce said. "It was a helpless feeling. It's frustrating and I don't know what else I could do. Then the homer afterward put the icing on the cake."

The Phillies then scored the winning run off Tony Cingrani (0-2) in the ninth. Odubel Herrera doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and raced home on Ruf's hit to right.

"It seemed like for the last week and a half we've been missing that big hit, and Franco got the dugout energized," Ruf said.

Jonathan Papelbon (1-0) tossed a perfect top of the ninth for the Phillies, who snapped a seven-game skid. Sean O'Sullivan got the start and gave up four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Johnny Cueto, making his first start since May 19 due to an elbow issue, lasted six innings and allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits for the Reds, who have lost eight in a row on the road.

Cincinnati jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first. Brandon Phillips singled and raced home on Joey Votto's double down the right-field line.

Philadelphia tied things up in the second. Franco reached on Todd Frazier's fielding error, moved to third on Cody Asche's double and crossed the plate when Herrera grounded out. Carlos Ruiz struck out swinging and O'Sullivan popped out to keep it 1-1.

Phillips and Votto combined to plate another run for Cincinnati in the third. Phillips doubled and scored on Votto's single to left-center field.

The Reds tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Marlon Byrd, a former Phillie, and Zack Cozart hit back-to-back doubles to plate a run. Cozart came around to score on consecutive sacrifice bunts by
Cueto and Billy Hamilton.

Chase Utley's solo homer in the sixth made it 4-2.

Notes: The Reds haven't won a series at Citizens Bank Park since August 2006 ... Byrd fractured his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in the sixth ... Utley went 3-for-4 ... The Phillies avoided tying their worst losing streak since July 2013.