Marlins drop series opener to league-leading Phillies

[Hector Rodriguez]

Adam Oller pitched well through five innings, but Philadelphia scored four runs in the sixth to break the game open. Following their win, the Phillies are now tied with the Dodgers for MLB's highest winning percentage.

MIAMI—The Miami Marlins opened a four-game home series Thursday night versus the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia took the lead quickly and never gave it up in defeating the Fish, 5-2.

Right-handed pitcher Adam Oller got the start and loss for the Marlins. Oller pitched 5 ⅓ innings allowing five hits, four runs, five walks, and six strikeouts.

The 29-year-old righty performed better than his final line suggests. Two of the walks he allowed came on pitches that were clearly in the strike zone, but home plate umpire David Rackley saw them differently. Aside from a Bryson Stott bloop single in the top of the first inning, Oller held the Phillies scoreless until he ran out of gas in the sixth.

Stott homered off Oller to extend the lead to 2-0. The next two batters also reached base, and they would come around to score against Anthony Veneziano, the left-handed reliever who was making his Marlins debut.

The Marlins offense struggled to produce, especially early in the ballgame. Phillies All-Star pitcher Ranger Suárez had the Marlins off balance, forcing weak contact and whiffs. Suárez got roughed up when he previously faced this club earlier in the season, but he got his revenge by shoving five scoreless frames.

Catcher Nick Fortes continues to hit the ball in the second half of the season. Fortes went 2-for-2 with two base knocks and a walk. He was in discomfort after hustling to first base on his infield single in the bottom of the seventh. After a brief delay, he stayed in the game.

Coming off the bench, Griffin Conine recorded his first hit at loanDepot park with a double down the left field line. Jesús Sánchez would later drive him in with an RBI single to center field. Miami’s only other run came on a throwing error, which scored Jake Burger from second base.

The Phillies improved their record to 84-56, matching the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best mark in baseball. With this loss combined, the Marlins are only a half-game clear of the Colorado Rockies for worst record in the National League.

 

What’s next?

The Marlins will look to rebound on Friday night, but will be facing one of the best pitchers in MLB. Two-time All-Star and 2024 NL Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler will get the start for the Phillies. In his fifth season with the Phillies, Wheeler has a 13-6 record with a 2.63 ERA, NL-best 0.98 WHIP, and 183 strikeouts in 167 ⅔ innings pitched.

Right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera will be on the mound for the Marlins. Cabrera has struggled this season as he has posted a 3-6 record with a 5.33 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 5.0 BB/9.

The first pitch for Friday's matchup is at 7:10 pm EST. Watch on Bally Sports Florida. 

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I have no beef with Oller. He didn't succumb to the Phillies' top guys, which is my usual mantra: let someone else in the lineup beat you. Stott did, and that's ok with me.  I am glad that Rodriguez has some cajónes in the article - no mincing of words about those horrendous missed calls. I spontaneously yelled at the television, "C'mon, man," along with the Marlins announce team. It's also quite probable that Oller, had he been left in, would have allowed at least another run. That mitigates my other pet peeve - Schumaker's general unwillingness to extend the starters in this lost season (and the concomitant bullpen ramifications). 

I'm optimistic that Cabrera will rise to the challenge tonight. Call me silly. 

PS - Plunk Marsh. Just because.