Phillies Clinch Last Place With 7-6 Loss To Marlins
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies locked themselves into the basement for a second straight season on Saturday.
Aaron Harang allowed four runs in possibly the final start of his career, and the Phillies clinched last place in the NL East again in a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
Three of Harang's runs were earned, and he allowed eight hits over 5 2-3 innings and got a no-decision. The 14-year big league veteran finished the year 6-15 with a 4.86 ERA. He will be a free agent after the season and is contemplating his next move.
"I have to go home and think about it and decide what I want to do," he said. "I feel like I can still pitch."
Brian Boguesvic homered and Odubel Herrera had three hits and an RBI for the Phillies, who need to win one of their final two games to avoid 100 losses in a season for the 15th time in club history. Philadelphia last lost 100 in a season in 1961.
Maikel Franco pinch hit in the ninth and struck out against A.J. Ramos. It was his first plate appearance since fracturing his left wrist on Aug. 11 when he was hit by a pitch.
Christian Yelich had a career-high five hits, Marcell Ozuna drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and Dee Gordon got his 200th hit of the season as the Marlins rallied for a victory.
"It really meant a lot to me," Gordon said. "I was a little nervous coming in today. I'm just proud it worked out. It's even more special since we came back and got the win."
Yelich singled with one out in the ninth off Ken Giles (6-3) and scored the tying run on Martin Prado's triple to right. Prado scored the go-ahead run on Ozuna's single to left.
"We played hard up until the end," Yelich said.
It was just the second blown save for Giles since he took over for Jonathan Papelbon after the former Phillies closer was traded to Washington.
"He's been fantastic; it happens," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We had them where we wanted them, but we couldn't put them away."
Gordon had a pair of hits and an RBI and reached the milestone with a sixth-inning single. Gordon entered hitting .329, two points behind Bryce Harper for the NL batting crown. He became the first Marlins player since Hanley Ramirez in 2007 to record 200 hits.
Gordon also had a pair of steals to up his season total to 58, overtaking injured Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton for the league lead. Jeff Mathis homered for the Marlins.
Chris Narveson (3-1) tossed a scoreless eighth to earn the victory, and Ramos kept the Phillies off the board in ninth for his 31st save in 37 chances. Ramos struck out Franco with a man on second to end the game.
The teams were forced to play a doubleheader after the game Friday night was postponed due to rain. Game 2 of the twin bill started at 8:05 p.m.
The Phillies went ahead 6-5 in the sixth when Chase d'Arnaud scored on Freddy Galvis' sacrifice fly.
Tom Koehler started for Miami and allowed four earned runs on six hits in five innings.
The Marlins jumped to a 4-0 lead with three runs in the second and Mathis' solo shot to left in the third.
Cody Asche's bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the third pulled Philadelphia within 4-3, and the Phillies tied it in the fourth on Bogusevic's opposite-field homer into the first row in left field.
After Philadelphia took a 5-4 lead on Herrera's fifth-inning RBI single, the Marlins tied it in the sixth when Gordon stole third and scored on catcher Carlos Ruiz's throwing error.
COLD DAY
The game was played on a windy, rainy and cold afternoon with an announced temperature of 57 degrees at game time. Fans braved the conditions with blankets, hats, coats and other winter clothing.
"The conditions were pretty brutal," Harang said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: 1B Ryan Howard (knee) sat out once again. Howard hasn't played since injuring his knee on a play at first base on Sept. 14. All indications from Mackanin are that Howard is done for the season.
UP NEXT
Phillies RHP David Buchanan (2-9, 7.54) opposes LHP Adam Conley (4-1, 3.84) on Sunday afternoon in the regular-season finale.
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