1 Bad Inning From Aaron Nola Sends Phillies To Arguably Season-Defining Series Loss To Marlins
MIAMI (AP) — The Marlins used the element of surprise Sunday to beat the Phillies. They threw strikes.
Four Miami pitchers threw a combined four-hitter and allowed only one walk to win 3-2.
The Phillies couldn't have seen that coming, since the Marlins allowed 10 walks in each of the first two games in the series.
"We had a meeting before the game," Miami managing Don Mattingly said, "and said, 'Let's throw the ball over the plate. It's got to start there. You can't defend the walk. Let's get it in the strike zone, and don't be afraid if they hit it. Every one is not going to be a home run.'"
Rhys Hoskins hit the Phillies' lone homer — his 25th. It came after César Hernandez settled for a single on a hit off the wall because he was slow out of the batter's box.
"Totally unacceptable," Phils manager Gabe Kapler said.
Hoskins' homer made Hernandez's lack of hustle inconsequential on the scoreboard. Those were the only runs allowed by Elieser Hernandez (3-5), who went six innings.
He walked none.
"That's the goal," Hernandez said. "That's what we work for."
Aaron Nola (12-4) was almost as good. He faced the minimum until the sixth, when he allowed four consecutive batters to reach as the Marlins erased a 2-0 deficit and scored all of their runs.
Jon Berti hit an RBI single, and Starlin Castro's two-run double put Miami ahead 3-2. Of Castro's 67 RBIs in 2019, 24 have come this month.
Ryne Stanek pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his first career save. Stanek said it didn't seem to take long for him to enter the game because both starters were so good.
"Super efficient," Stanek said. "I didn't realize how fast the game was moving until I looked up and it was the fifth inning and they both had like 55 pitches."
Miami won in 2 hours, 38 minutes, a big contrast to the first two games of the series, which each lasted more than 3½ hours.
The last-place Marlins won two of the three and improved to 9-7 against the Phillies this year with three games yet to play in late September. Philadelphia has won the season series each of the past nine years.
The Phillies, who had averaged 6.3 runs per game in their previous 10 games, never batted with a runner in scoring position.
"They're really good hitters," Miami catcher Bryan Holaday said. "You can't let them get into good counts. You've got to attack them and try to stay ahead of them and put them way when you get the chance."
REVAMPED BULLPEN
The Marlins earned their first save since July 24. Stanek, acquired from the Rays at midseason, hasn't been used before as a closer.
"We think he has the stuff to be able to do it," Mattingly said. "We're going to give him some opportunities."
ROSTER MOVES
Before the game, Miami recalled RHP Kyle Keller from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned RHP Tyler Kinley to New Orleans.
UP NEXT
Slugger Bryce Harper, who missed the series on paternity leave, is expected to rejoin the Phillies when they return home Monday, with LHP Jason Vargas (6-6, 3.99) scheduled to start in the opener of a three-game series against Pittsburgh. Vargas is 0-1 despite a 3.91 ERA in four starts this month.
Marlins RHP Pablo Lopez (5-5, 4.23) is scheduled to come off the injured list to pitch Monday night against Cincinnati. He has been on the injured list since June 19 with a right shoulder strain. "It's been forever since I've been on this mound," Lopez said. "I'm real excited."
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