Phillies Score Early, Defeat Marlins in Series Finale
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The Phillies piled up runs early against Marlins’ lefthander Dontrelle Willis as Jamie Moyer was one walk short of perfect for 3 innings before rightfielder Jeremy Hermida got Florida’s first hit, a one-out single in the 4th. Catcher Carlos Ruiz struck a two run leftfield homer in the 1st inning and Pat Burrell belted a two run shot to left centerfield in 3rd as the Phils built an 8-0 lead after 4 innings.
But the Marlins put up 5 runs in the 6th inning on 3 homers to make a possible rout interesting. Moyer was chased but the bullpen came through again with 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball, extending their unscored upon streak to 9 2/3 innings as the Phillies won the series finale by an 8-5 score. Counting the run that Florida scored in the 8th inning of the series opener, the Phils’ bullpen has given up but one run in their last 14 1/3 innings.
With the win, the Phillies remained 6 games behind the Mets who defeated the Houston Astros by a 4-1 score despite Houston’s 10 hits. It was Pedro Martinez’s 2nd win since returning after a year recovering from rotator cuff surgery.
The Phils now trail the San Diego Padres in the NL wild card race by 2 games and are in 2nd place, 1/2 game ahead of the L.A. Dodgers. Both the Padres and Dodgers lost on Sunday.
The Phillies scored 5 runs in the 1st inning powered by a 2 run shot by Ruiz after RBI singles by centerfielder Aaron Rowand and rightfielder Jayson Werth. They added 2 more runs in the 2nd on Burrell’s 27th homer. The 8th run was scored in the 4th inning on Burrell’s RBI double.
The closest the Marlins came to an offense over the first 5 innings off of winning pitcher Moyer was shortstop Hanley Ramirez’s centerfield drive leading off in the first inning. Rowand made a leaping, crashing catch into the centerfield wall robbing Ramirez of an extra-base hit. In crashing into the wall, Rowand lost his hat and sunglasses, but held onto the ball.
AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston recaps the game from here for Yahoo sports;
Moyer (13-11) was cruising, pitching one-hit ball. Then, as suddenly as the soft-tossing lefty was retiring batters, he got battered in the sixth.
Reggie Abercrombie had a pinch-hit double to open the inning and Ramirez followed with his 26th homer. Two batters later, [Jeremy] Hermida hit his 15th homer to make it 8-3.
After another single — and Moyer was getting hit hard at that point — pitching coach Rich Dubee came out for a visit while Antonio Alfonseca hurriedly warmed up. [Mike] Jacobs’ 14th homer, a two-run shot to right, made it 8-5 and ended Moyer’s day.
“Jamie’s a tough guy to really know when to get,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
With Moyer faltering, the bullpen did its job for the second straight day. Antonio Alfonseca finished the sixth, and Kane Davis, J.C. Romero and [Brett] Myers each worked a scoreless inning.
The Phillies threw five innings of scoreless relief against Florida on Saturday and allowed only one run in 4 2-3 innings in Friday night’s loss.
“A lot relied on the bullpen in this series and we had to do our job,” Myers said.
Moyer beat the Marlins for the fourth time this season and improved his career mark to 7-0 against the worst team in the NL.
“At some point, they’re going to give me a handful,” he said.
Willis (8-15) gave up seven runs in three innings and lost for the 12th time in 13 decisions.
“I’m sure he’s frustrated,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We haven’t been able to get him on a roll.”
Closer Brett Myers earned his 15th save in pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on this and on all of Sunday’s games, click here.
The Phillies open a 4 game series on Monday with the Colorado Rockies. Kyle Lohse opens for the Phillies against rookie Ubaldo Jimenez.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on all of Monday’s games, click here.
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