Marlins 5, Phillies 2
WP – Ricky Nolasco (7-6, 4.62)
LP – Joe Blanton (7-7, 4.85)
SV – Heath Bell (17)
MIAMI — The Marlins pulled out the brooms and successfully swept the Phillies in their home park.
Philadelphia, making its first trip to Miami’s new stadium, fell again, 5-2, and were swept but the 4th place Marlins. The Phillies started the series only half a game behind Miami to get out of the cellar but they instead distanced themselves further in the bottom of the NL East.
Joe Blanton rebounded from a rocky first three innings to pitch a solid effort. He went six, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Blanton gave up back-to-back doubles and an RBI single in the 2nd inning to cough up a 1-0 lead created in the first by Juan Pierre’s triple and Hunter Pence’s RBI on a fielder’s choice.
He then gave up a home run to Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton to give the Marlins a 3-1 lead.
The Phillies were able to cut the lead in half when a pair of wild pitches by Ricky Nolasco enabled Pierre to score from second in the same at-bat.
The Phillies bullpen erased any hope of a comeback though. In the bottom of the 8th, Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Phillies lefty Antonio Bastardo, giving the Marlins a 5-2 lead as they pulled away with the win.
3B: Pierre (4).
QUALLS TRADED — After the game, the Phillies traded reliever Chad Qualls to the New York Yankees for cash.
