While a series win would have been ideal for the Miami Marlins, they will take a series split with the Philadelphia Phillies. Miami lost the final game of the four-game series to the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2 on Thursday afternoon.
Game Flow
Bottom 4th
Rhys Hoskins has been hot as of late, and he continued that sweltering hot streak with his team-leading 11th home run of the season. Hoskins has now hit three home runs in his last seven games. This home run came off of Pablo Lopez, who started the game for the Marlins. Lopez gave the Marlins seven solid innings, only conceding two runs and four hits.
The Phillies were not done yet, though. After Rhys drove one out of the park, Odubel Herrara followed up that act with a double to center field. That was Herrara’s 6th double of the season. Then, Alec Bohm laced a single to right field, setting up Matt Joyce with runners on first and third. Joyce put a drive into a ball, that had enough giddy-up on it to push Marlins CF Magneuris Sierra back far enough to score Odubel Herrara. This gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead going into the bottom half of the 4th.
Bottom 5th
Sandy Leon started out the bottom half of the 5th with a single to Roman Quinn in left field. After two straight walks, the bases were loaded. Spencer Howard, the starter for Philly, had a short day. Howard pitched only four innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, which would come across the plate after a sacrifice fly from Jesus Aguilar. The play itself was wild, as Rhys Hoskins took a throw from Odubel Herrara who then whipped it over to Bohm to nab Isan Diaz at third. The inning was over, but the lead had been cut to one.
Bottom 8th
The Marlins entered the 8th down one, but they had a late-game rally in them. They say that patience is a virtue, and Miguel Rojas and Jose Devers sure can attest to that idea. Ironically enough though, as Garrett Cooper was in the midst of a duel with Jose Alvarado, Miguel Rojas was picked off by Rafael Marchan. But, Cooper picked him up with an RBI single to right, scoring Jose Devers from second base. This RBI from Garrett Cooper tied the game up at two apiece. But, the game wouldn’t stay this way much longer.
9th Inning
Odubel Herrara started off the 9th with a triple to center field. He was pumped up, and so was the Phillies bench. He would later score on a fielders choice. This play was reviewed to see if the Fish had indeed pulled off a double play, but thanks to the speed of Ronald Torreyes, the run scored. Everyone says speed kills, doesn’t it ever.
In the bottom half of the 9th, the Marlins needed a rally. They almost got one. Hector Neris came in to shut the door for the Phillies. After Sandy Leon reached base, once again, thanks to a drawn walk, Isan Diaz struck out swinging. Berti, representing the winning run, grounded into a game-ending double play, and the Phillies survived to win the final game of a lengthy four-game series between these two foes.
Next Up
The Marlins will pay the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox a visit for a three-game Memorial Day series at Fenway Park. Rookie Cody Poteet will go for the Fish, while Martín Pérez will start on the mound for the Red Sox.