For 8 innings on Friday, Phils starter Brett Myers (6-5) and Marlins’ rookie starter Ricky Nolasco (9-6), who was relieved in the 8th innng with one out by rookie reliever Taylor Tankersly (1-1, ERA 1.65), were embroiled in classic pitching dual in which Florida led 1-0 going into the 9th inning and won the game 4-1.

Myers gave up 5 hits in his 8 innings of work and held the Marlins scoreless on 3 hits through 6 innings.  Although in a losing cause, this was one Myers’ best games of the year.  He has been impressive in his last 3 starts, although 2 of them have been losses. Nolasco did even better holding the Phils hitless until Abraham Nunez (1 HR) singled in the 7th.  But while holding the Phils hitless through the 6th inning, he did walk 5 and hit 2nd baseman Chase Utley (19 HRs, 64 RBIs, .323 BA) with a pitch in the 4th inning.

Speaking of Utley, he did single in the 8th inning to extend his season high hitting streak to 28 games. However, he was rubbed out on a fielder’s choice grounder by rightfielder Bobby Abreu (8 HRs, 65 RBIs, .277 BA) who then made the final out of the inning by being picked off of 1st base by Marlin’s reliever Tankersly.

Florida scored it’s 1st run in the 7th on back-to-back doubles by 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera (15 HRs, 63 RBIs, .324 BA) and 1st baseman Mike Jacobs (14 HRs, 54 RBIs, .285 BA) with Jacobs getting the RBI.

In the 9th, Florida scored 3 runs, 1 on an RBI singles by rightfielder Jeremy Hermida (4 HRs, .299 BA) and 2 more on a single by catcher Miguel Olivo (10 HRs, 37 RBIs, .287 BA).

The Phils got a solo homer from 1st baseman Ryan Howard (33 HRs, 82 RBIs, .282 BA) in the bottom of the 9th inning, but it was not enough.

For a full recap including box score and play-by-play on Friday’s game, click here.

The Phils send rookie lefthander Cole Hamels (2-5) up against Florida’s Dontrelle Willis (6-7) in the second game of this series.

For full coverage of Saturday’s games in both leagues; previews, recaps, box scores and play-by-play coverage click here.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 29th, 2006 at 6:52 pm and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.