Phillies complete series sweep of Marlins with 4-0 victory; Finish 1st half of season in playoff position
The Phillies beat the Marlins 4-0, sweeping the three-game series against a division foe, and finishing the first half of the season in playoff position.
Phillies (49-43) Beat Blue Jays (43-48).
- Winning Pitcher:Â Aaron Nola (6-7, 3.13)
- Losing Pitcher: Trevor Rogers (4-9, 5.46)
- Save:Â Jose Alvarado (1, 4.39)
With the series sweep against a Marlins team that had caused this team all types of trouble over the past few seasons, the Phillies finish the unofficial first half of the season 6-games over .500 and in sole possession of the final wild-card playoff berth in the National League.
When the Phillies, sitting at 8-game under .500, fired their manager Joe Girardi on June 1st it would be have been unimaginable to think of them being in playoff position by the All-Star Break. But interim-manager Rob Thomson has pulled all the right strings, despite losing two of his best players in Bryce Harper and Jean Segura both to broken fingers throughout his short time leading the bench.
Yairo Muñoz hit a two-run home run off Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers in a big 4th inning that saw the Phillies go up 4-0 and never look back. Alec Bohm led off the scoring with an RBI double earlier in the inning that scored JT Realmuto and Matt Vierling knocked Bohm in one batter later with his own RBI double down the left field foul line.
Other than the big run scoring 4th inning, the Phillies offense was quiet, managing only four hits and finishing just 2-7 with runners in scoring position while stranding 5 men on base.
Aaron Nola was dominant on Sunday afternoon, striking out 10 Marlins hitters and scattering 8 hits over 8 innings of work. Nola walked one hitter and was pulled after allowing two straight one-out singles when he came out in the 9th inning looking for the complete game.
Nola extended his streak of going at least 7 innings to 8 starts, trailing only Marlins All-Star Sandy Alcantara who took the loss in the first game of the series.
Nola finished the first half of the season with a 6-7 record and a 3.13 ERA while striking out the second most hitters in the National League. Despite the excellent numbers, Nola, much like teammate Zack Wheeler failed to make his second All-Star game in a stacked National League.
Jose Alvarado entered the game after Nola was unable to complete the 9th inning and picked up his first save in what has been an up and down first half for the Phils hard throwing southpaw.
Enjoy the All-Star Break. Spend some time with your friends and families you filthy degenerates!
Aaron Nola strikes out Marlins All-Star Garrett Cooper and the side in the 1st inning.
Alec Bohm knocks an RBI double to the right field gap off Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers to put the Phils ahead in the 4th inning.
1-0 Phils
Matt Vierling rips an RBI double down the left field line to double the Phils lead.
2-0 Phils
Yairo Muñoz crushes this first pitch offering from Trevor Rogers for a 2-run home run deep in the left field bleachers.
4-0 Phils
Aaron Nola punches out Avisail Garcia for this 10th strike out of the afternoon in the 8th inning.
Up Next for the Phillies
Thats a wrap on the first half of the Phillies season. The Phils have 5-days off for the All-Star break and will continue play on July 22nd when they take on the Cubs in a 3-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Kyle Gibson (5-3, 4.35) will toe the rubber facing off against TBD (0-0, 0-00) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
