Slumping Berti's 2-Run Single Lifts Marlins Over Phils 4-2
MIAMI (AP) — Slumping Jon Berti hit a go-ahead. two-run single in a three-run eighth inning, and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Philadelphia, playing without injured stars Bryce Harper, Didi Gregorius and J.T. Realmuto. built a 2-1 lead on Brad Miller's bases-loaded walk in the third off Nick Neidert and Rhy Hoskins' fifth-inning sacrifice fly against Anthony Bender.
Aaron Nola allowed one run and two hits — both singles — in six innings and centerfielder Odubel Herrera preserved the lead with a leaping catch to rob Isan Diaz of a home run in the sixth. But Nola remained 0-3 in three starts since May 4 as the Phillies lost for the fifth time in 22 games this year when leading after seven innings.
Connor got out of two-on trouble in the seventh when Jesús Aguilar hit an inning-ending flyout, but Sam Coonrod (0-1) gave up the lead in the eighth.
Corey Dickerson singled leading off and Coonrod got two outs before walking Diaz. Andrew Knapp's passed ball allowed the runners to move up and Berti, the No. 8 hitter whose average was down to .178 (18 for 101), hit an opposite-single to right for a 3-2 lead.
Berti ended a streak of 20 games and 62 plate appearances without an RBI since he homered at Milwaukee off Brent Suter on April 27.
Berti stole second and scored on Jose Devers' single.
Ross Detwiler (1-0) pitched around a leadoff walk in the eighth, and Yimi García hit Roman Quinn with a pitch starting the ninth, then finished a five-hitter by getting three straight outs for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Aguilar hit a tying single for Miami in the third.
Marlins starter Nick Neidert, recalled from Triple A Jacksonville, allowed one run, four hits and two walks in four innings.
ROSTER MOVE
Miami designated LHP Shawn Morimando for assignment. In his lone appearance with the club Monday, Morimando entered in the ninth inning with a seven-run lead and got just two outs, allowing four runs and four hits and leaving with the potential tying run on deck.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: INF Scott Kingery (concussion protocol) is starting to swing a bat, take ground balls but has not been cleared to play because he has not undergone high intensity workouts, manager Joe Girardi said.
Marlins: INF Jazz Chisholm (sore right ankle) did not play. Chisholm rolled the ankle on his unsuccessful attempt to stretch a hit into a double in the 2-0 loss Tuesday. ... 1B-OF Garrett Cooper (right oblique tightness) was scratched from the lineup 30 minutes before game time.
UP NEXT
RHP Spencer Howard (0-1, 7.36) starts the series finale for the Phillies and RHP Pablo López (1-3, 2.73) for the nod for the Marlins.
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