Aaron Nola battled, but the Marlins scored three runs in the bottom of the eigth inning to steal Wednesday’s game from the Phillies.
It was another game without much offense, but unlike Tuesday, the Marlins came out on top. The Phillies are 24-26 on the season, and yet again fail to win a series against a Miami team that has tortured them in recent memory.
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After both sides were quiet to start the game, the Phillies struck first in the top of the third inning. Roman Quinn led off the inning with a double, and moved to third on a bunt by Aaron Nola that left Nola safe at first. Jean Segura was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Brad Miller walked to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. That was all the Phillies menaged in the inning, however, as Rhys Hoskins and Odubel were retired to end the threat.
The Marlins struck back in the bottom of the frame. After hitting Jose Devers with a pitch and walking Magneuris Sierra, Nola allowed an RBI single to Jesus Aguilar that tied the game, 1-1.
The Phillies’ struggles with runners on base continued in the top of the fourth. Nick Maton led off the inning with a walk, but Andrew Knapp grounded into a double play. Then, with two outs, Roman Quinn and Aaron Nola hit back-to-back singles, but Andrew McCutchen struck out to end the inning.
The Phillies re-took the lead in the fifth inning against Miami reliever Anthony Bender. After Segura reached on a fielding error and Miller singled him to third, Hoskins hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 in the Phillies’ favor.
Isan Diaz nearly tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a long fly ball to center field, but Odubel Herrera robbed the potential home run to preserve the Phillies’ lead.
The Marlins took the lead in the eigth inning against Sam Coonrod. After Corey Dickerson singled and Diaz walked, both runners moved up a base on a passed ball by Andrew Knapp. Jon Berti followed with a single that scored them both, and came around to score on an RBI single from Jose Devers.
Yimi Garcia tossed a scoreless ninth inning to close the game for Miami.
Nola has struggled greatly over his last few starts, and while he wasn’t particularly sharp on Wednesday, he kept the Marlins off the board outside of their lone third inning run. The Phillies desperately need these kind of performances from Nola even when he doesn’t have it in order to stay in contention movin forward. His ERA improves to 3.72 on the season.
Nick Neidert: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 78 pitches
Neidert was far from perfect, but kept the Marlins in the game in his fourth start of the season. He worked out of multiple jams and allowed just one run, and his ERA now stands at 5.63 on the season.
Berti’s plate appearance in the bottom of the eighth inning was the difference in this game. He fouled off six pitches before lacing the two-out single that gave Miami the lead.