Cody Asche benched for third straight game
Before the Phillies played Monday, Ryne Sandberg said he has faith in Cody Asche. It is Wednesday, and the 23-year-old third baseman has yet to appear in a game.
LOS ANGELES — Before the Phillies played Monday, Ryne Sandberg said he has faith in Cody Asche. It is Wednesday, and the 23-year-old third baseman has yet to appear in a game.
Asche was benched Wednesday for the third straight game. The Phillies faced lefthanded pitchers on Monday and Tuesday, which provided an excuse for Sandberg to use his bench. But Zack Greinke, a righty, starts Wednesday. Freddy Galvis, who is 1 for 18 this season and blew a hit-and-run play Tuesday, is at third base.
When asked Monday if Galvis could win more playing time, Sandberg said he would evaluate the situation "a day at a time." Asche has not started in six of the Phillies' last 11 games.
Asche rapped three hits - including a double and a home run - on opening day in Texas. He had six hits in 42 subsequent at-bats, just one for extra bases. He has a .384 OPS in that span.
"He's not playing as well as we'd like," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But we have to give him chances to play."
These days, those chances are rare for Asche.
The lineup behind Cole Hamels:
1. Ben Revere 8
2. Jimmy Rollins 6
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Marlon Byrd 9
6. Domonic Brown 7
7. Carlos Ruiz 2
8. Freddy Galvis 5
9. Cole Hamels 1
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