The new (temporary) normal: Marlins 3, Phillies 2
The new (temporary) normal: Marlins 3, Phillies 2
The Phillies offense was anemic, and their pitching wasn’t perfect in a 4-3 loss to the Marlins. Aaron Nola tossed six strong innings before running into trouble in the seventh and Matt Strahm once again allowed an inherited runner to score. Meanwhile, the Phillies offense struck out ten times and finished 1-5 with runners in scoring position.
Perfect is the enemy of good
Yesterday, the Phillies offense was able to scrape by thanks to the dominance of Cristopher Sánchez. Today, Nola was good but not perfect, and that was all the Marlins needed to outscore the Phillies depleted offense. Nola finished the first inning on just six pitches but needed 25 to get out of the second. He got the first two hitters out but then allowed a home run to Nick Gordon that put the Marlins up 1-0.
Nola then allowed a single to Tim Anderson before Otto Lopez reached on an error by Trea Turner at shortstop to put two on with two out. But Nola was able to strikeout Nick Fortes to escape further damage.
He would then settle in and at one point retire 8 straight batters from the fifth inning to the seventh, but once again ran into trouble with two outs. After retiring Gordon thanks to a sliding grab from Nick Castellanos and getting Anderson to groundout, Nola allowed back-to-back doubles to Lopez and Fortes that tied the game at 2-2 on his 100th pitch of the afternoon.
Matt Strahm entered in relief in a similar situation as Thursday night where he needed to get one out against a lefty hitter with a runner on base. He again failed to strand the runner, as he allowed a single to Jazz Chisholm Jr. that scored Fortes from second and gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead. Strahm then struck out Bryan De La Cruz to end the inning, but the damage was done. The run finished Nola’s line at 6.2 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 9 strikeouts, and no walks.
Got offense?
Today showcased just how difficult it will be for the Phillies to score runs in the absence of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto. There weren’t many scoring opportunities and when one arose, the Phillies failed to capitalize.
Their first run was courtesy of a Garrett Stubbs home run to lead off the third. It was the first long ball for Stubbs since September of last season, and it then tied the game at 1-1.
The Phillies then had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth after a Castellanos single and Kody Clemens double. But they would both be stranded, as Edmundo Sosa grounded out with a ball off of the pitcher’s glove with the infield drawn in. It appeared to be a difficult read for Castellanos at third, who ultimately retreated to the bag and did not score. Stubbs then lined out to a diving Lopez to end the threat.
Much like last night, the Phillies second run can be credited to the work of Johan Rojas. Rojas walked to begin the sixth then stole second. Bryson Stott singled to move Rojas to third and Alec Bohm brought him in with a sacrifice fly after a Turner strikeout. But the Marlins then brought in lefty reliever Andrew Nardi to face Brandon Marsh who struck out swinging. Marsh now has 24 strikeouts in 52 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season. Turner, Bohm, and Marsh, the Phillies 2-3-4 hitters, finished the game a combined 0-10 with 3 strikeouts, a walk, and an RBI.
Philadelphia wouldn’t have another real scoring threat the rest of the game, as a Stott walk in the seventh was their only remaining baserunner after the sixth.
Tomorrow’s matchup
Ranger Suárez (10-2, 1.83) will try to salvage a four-game split for the Phillies against Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 2.70) of the Marlins. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35.