Marlins Finally Snap Phillies Winning Streak, 4-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies' winning streak against the Miami Marlins was bound to end eventually.
Ed Lucas homered in the 10th to give the Marlins a 4-3 lead Wednesday night. The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning to put Miami closer Steve Cishek's major league-best saves streak in danger.
They could not score, however, as Roger Bernadina struck out and Freddy Galvis grounded out to seal the Marlins' victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak to their divisional rival.
"It was frustrating at the end — second and third and no outs but we couldn't execute," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.
The homer was the fourth of the season for Lucas. Miami's Giancarlo Stanton tied the game 3-3 in the sixth inning with a two-run, homer to center field that was measured at 460 feet.
"It was a slider slightly down and in," Sandberg said of Lucas' homer. "A pitch you'd want back, but it wasn't a hanging pitch."
Brad Hand (1-1) was credited with the victory for pitching a scoreless ninth. Cishek was shaky in the 10th but picked up his 31st save overall and 26th in a row, the longest active streak in the major leagues and one shy of the Marlins' franchise record set by Todd Jones in 2005.
Cesar Jimenez (1-1) took the loss for Philadelphia, which is 7-2 in its last nine home games.
"Everybody is playing as a team, rooting for each other and playing good baseball," Sandberg said.
A couple of Phillies miscues in the fifth inning set up the Marlins' first run. Following Adeiny Hechavarria's single, Nathan Eovaldi reached first base on an error when catcher Carlos Ruiz fielded his sacrifice bunt attempt and threw too high to second.
Luis Garcia's wild pitch moved the runners to second and third with one out, and Hechavarria scored on Donovan Solano's groundout.
The Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on two walks and a single and tied it on a passed ball. Chase Utley drove in two runs with a single to right.
The Phillies blew an opportunity to take the lead in the eighth. Domonic Brown led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. After Cody Asche struck out, Bernadina hit a liner toward shortstop but Hechavarria made a diving stop to preserve the tie.
"The shortstop made an unbelievable play," Sandberg said. "We had it in the outfield. He's some athlete."
Utley finished the series against the Marlins with six hits and 10 RBIs.
"He's swinging a good bat, showing power and showing his leadership," Sandberg said. "He's a real steady force and will be a big piece for next year."
Eovaldi struggled with his control through five innings, allowing three runs, four hits, four walks and a hit batter while striking out five.
In his first major league start since August 2009, Zach Miner tossed three scoreless innings for the Phillies and allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two.
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