Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Herrera, Suárez lead Phillies to matinee victory over Marlins

Odubel Herrera has had a strong month for the Phillies. (Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 3, Marlins 2

Thursday afternoon marked just the second time in Odúbel Herrera’s major league career that he hit in the cleanup spot, but for at least a day, he looked the part of a middle-of-the-order bat.

A night after robbing a home run, Herrera went 2-4 with a double, triple and two runs scored. Along with impressive days from Ranger Suárez and Rhys Hoskins, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins Thursday, earning a series split in a park that’s often been a hellscape in recent years.

With the win, the Phillies move to 24-26. They’ll have an unusual Friday off day tomorrow, before heading to Tropicana Field for a two-game set against the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays.

Top Plays

Three pitches after nearly getting hit in the head, Rhys Hoskins got the Phillies on the board in the top of the fourth with his second home run of the series, a solo shot that travelled 403 feet:

Odúbel Herrera followed Hoskins’ home run with a double, and was advanced to third base on an opposite-field single. The Phillies brought a second run home in the inning when Matt Joyce’s fly ball was hit deep enough to score Herrera.
After cruising for four innings, Spencer Howard ran out of gas in the fifth inning, exiting with the bases loaded, with two Marlins reaching base on walks. Fortunately for the Phillies, Ranger Suárez came in and limited the damage after inheriting the bases loaded with no outs. Following a strikeout of Pablo López, Suárez allowed a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jesús Aguilar, but Hoskins cut the ball off and fired to third base, in time to throw out Isan Díaz at third base. Suárez allowed just one hit in three impressive innings of work.
The Phillies did strand runners on second and third base in the top of eighth inning, with Dylan Floro inducing an inning-ending groundout off the bat of Hoskins.
José Alvarado was tasked with getting the ball to Héctor Neris with a lead, but was unable to record a hold in the bottom of the eighth inning. While Alvarado induced a weak grounder off the bat of Jorge Alfaro to begin the inning, he walked José Devers and Miguel Rojas in back-to-back at-bats. Rafael Marchan picked Rojas off at first base, but pinch-hitter Garrett Cooper followed that with a single into right field that plated Devers. Alvarado threw 31 pitches in the bottom of the eighth, waling three batters. He was fortunate to leave the inning with the game tied.
Herrera tripled to lead off the top of the ninth inning. Alec Bohm struck out swinging with a chance to drive in Herrera, with Don Mattingly then electing to intentionally walk Joyce. Ronald Torreyes grounded into what appeared to trouble for the Phillies. Seemingly, Herrera was far enough off of third base that when the ball was hit back to Marlins reliever Yimi Garcia, he could have thrown to third and had a play on the Phillies outfielder. Instead, Garcia attempted to turn a double play, which was a mistake. Torreyes was able to beat the throw to first base, allowing Herrera to score the go-ahead run:

Neris did walk the leadoff batter in the home half of the ninth inning, but was ultimately able to strike out Díaz and induce a game-ending double play off the bat of Jon Berti.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

For four innings, Spencer Howard looked excellent, allowing just one hit and no runs. The 24-year-old ran out of gas in the fifth inning, but Ranger Suárez was able to escape the inning with the lead still intact. It’s not a question with Howard of whether he’ll be an impact pitcher at the major league level, it’s just a matter of whether he’ll be able to build up enough to be a regular starting pitcher, or whether he’d be best served as a multi-inning reliever.
Pablo López allowed two runs in the fourth inning, but largely was excellent for the Fish on Thursday. Across seven frames, López limited the Phillies to four hits and two runs, while striking out five. Given that he only threw 92 pitches, López probably could have come back out for another inning.

Postgame Notes

Joe Girardi on Ranger Suárez: “He’s been really good since we’ve called him up, the whole time he has been here. He continues to impress and he impressed today and gave us three really good innings. I wasn’t quite sure how long I had him today because I had him up yesterday, but he felt good, kept his pitch count down and he’s been big for us.
Girardi on why Jean Segura didn’t stay in to field after pinch hitting: “Just so you know, we’re going to approach this differently. I’ve talked to people in our organization. It’s a manager’s decision and I’m not going to share anything. Who’s available. Who’s not available. … Because I think it’s somewhat unfair to us. Just like if you were to do something that you’re not going to share with a rival reporter. So that’s the way we’re going to handle it. Just manager’s decision.”
Girardi on Odúbel Herrera: “He’s having a chance to rewrite his story a little bit to try to change people’s view of him – to try to show his teammates how he’s changed and the fans and the organization how he’s changed. He’s playing really well.”
Herrera on how happy he is to be back with the Phillies: “I’m really happy because I’m here again. And I’m just going to continue, keep going and keep helping the team win. I feel really good that they gave me a second opportunity.”

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