The Miami Misery Report: Phillies lose 6-9 to Marlins
The Philadelphia Phillies have lost seven of its last nine games. After last night’s miserable 6-9 (nice) loss to the Miami Marlins, they are now 23-25 and have fallen behind Miami into fourth place in the National League East.
Phillies Kryptonite:
The Phillies dropped to 1-3 against the Marlins this season and 4-10 against them since the start of last season. Last September, they lost five of seven to the Marlins and essentially took themselves out of playoff contention for the ninth straight season.
Last night, the Marlins scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie, then broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring four more runs.
The Marlins out-hit the Phillies 12-9. Four the Phillies nine hits came in the ninth inning when they rallied for four runs, one on Brad Miller’s 100th career home run, to make things somewhat interesting before the end of the game.
In the end, it just wasn’t enough. Eight Marlins’ hits went for extra bases. Corey Dickerson’s two-run triple against Eflin broke the tie. Adam Duvall put the game out of reach with a three-run home run against Brandon Kintzler.
Kintzler has allowed five home runs in 15 1/3 innings this season. Last year as a member of the Marlins, he gave up just three in 24 1/3 innings. With the Cubs the previous year, he allowed just five in 57 innings. Kintzler, much like offseason additions of Matt Moore and Chase Anderson, haven’t worked out well for the Phillies this season.
Zach Eflin was on the mound and pitched into the sixth inning for the 10th consecutive time last night. He allowed six hits and four runs, one of which came unearned thanks to an error by Ronald Torreyes in the sixth. Torreyes, who has been solid since returning from injury, started again over Nick Maton who has been red hot all season, because Joe Girardi liked Torreyes against Trevor Rogers.
Just so we’re clear, Trevor Rogers is a left handed pitcher. Nick Maton is slashing .371/.389/.600 with a .989 OPS against left handed pitchers this season.
Nick Maton has 13 hits, two doubles, two home runs, and 5 RBI in 35 at-bats against left handed pitchers this season. Joe Girardi stating that he liked the matchup of Torreyes against left handed pitcher Trevor Rodgers is a dumb reason.
The Phillies were without Bryce Harper, JT Realmuto, and Didi Gregorius. Harper is expect to play tonight, with Vincent Velasquez on the mound against Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara pitched six scoreless innings and struck out nine in a win over the Phillies last week at Citizens Bank Park.
Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY
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