Phillies Lose To Marlins 1-0
MIAMI (AP) — J.T. Realmuto credits the spacious outfield at Marlins Park for his success with hitting triples. He certainly has the power and speed needed to do something not seen from most catchers.
Realmuto's RBI triple in the seventh inning broke a scoreless tie and the Miami Marlins held on for a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.
"I kind of was a little passive my first two at-bats on pitches to hit so I just wanted to get something early in the count, a good pitch to hit, and he left one over the middle of the plate and I was able to put a good swing on it," Realmuto said.
Bryan Morris (5-3) picked up the win by retiring both batters he faced.
A.J. Ramos, the sixth Miami pitcher, pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 35 chances. Ramos hit Odubel Herrera with a pitch to lead off the inning, but retired the next three batters.
"When you win a game 1-0 you've got to have quality pitching and tremendous defense and we had that," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said.
Alec Asher (0-5) pitched seven innings allowing one run and three hits for the Phillies. He struck out four and walked one.
Derek Dietrich singled with one out in the seventh and scored on Realmuto's triple to deep center field.
It was the seventh triple of the season for the Marlins catcher, the most by a major league catcher with a minimum of 80 games caught since Darrell Porter of the Kansas City Royals had 10 in 1979, according to STATS.
"It's pretty cool, but not too many catchers have the chance to play in a park like this where the gaps are huge and you can hit it and run for days," Realmuto said. "That's kind of helped me out a lot in that instance."
Realmuto, who also has an inside-the-park home run to his credit this season, usually has a pretty good idea off the bat if it's going to be a triple.
"Off the bat I can tell, especially right-center unless the centerfielder gets to it real quick and I see that then I'll shut it down, but for the most part if it gets in the right-center field gap I'm at least going to push it and try to get there," Realmuto said.
The hits by Dietrich and Realmuto were the first allowed by Asher since one in the first inning.
"With each start, I'm building more confidence," Asher said. "That was the main thing coming into this game. I was going to pitch my game, attack hitters and not give them too much credit."
The Phillies were 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
"Unfortunately, they (the Marlins) got a little squibber and an extra-base hit, and we couldn't mount any offense," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
Marlins starter Jarred Cosart left the game after four innings with a left forearm contusion. Cosart took a line drive hit by Cody Asche off of his non-throwing forearm in the fourth inning. He stayed in to finish the inning.
"It didn't feel too good," Cosart said. "It was only 106 (mph) off the bat so I guess it could have been worse. But hey, we got the win."
Cosart went back out to the mound to pitch the fifth, but was replaced by Jose Urena without facing a batter. Cosart allowed four hits and two walks. He struck out two.
"I sat down in between innings and it started throbbing and tightening up on me," Cosart said. "They said if it had been a little bit to the left I would have definitely shattered whatever bone that is, but I'm happy that it didn't. I moved a little bit, but I got smoked pretty good."
After the game Cosart received X-rays, which came back negative. He is optimistic that he will be able to make his next start.
Miami's Martin Prado, who was out with a wrist injury, played for the first time after missing five games. He entered the game in the eighth as a defensive replacement and singled in his only at-bat.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Hunter Capps (elbow) threw a simulation game Thursday and "threw the ball very well and based on what he just featured out there, pretty close to ready, if not ready," Jennings said. ... SS Adeiny Hechavarria (hamstring) was available to play in the game after taking live batting practice from two minor leaguers before the game. He has not played since Sept. 2.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 3.16 ERA) will face Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (13-8, 3.49) on Friday to begin a three-game series at Washington.
Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez (5-0, 2.18) takes the mound Friday in the Marlins' final home series of the season. The Braves will start RHP Ryan Weber (0-1, 3.26).
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