Arrieta, Marlins band steal show as Phillies crush Marlins

Final: Phillies 9, Marlins 1

Following being outscored 25-7 in the final two games of a series with a divisional rival, it’s hard to imagine having a start much worse than the Philadelphia Phillies did Friday evening against the lowly Miami Marlins. After loading the bases in the top of the first, the Phillies didn’t manage to push a single run across, with Rhys Hoskins striking out and J.T. Realmuto, in his return to Miami, grounding into an inning-ending double-play.

Fortunately, when you’re playing a team that entered the evening 3-10, you tend to get a lot of chances.

After failing to score off of Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara in the top of the first inning, the Phillies blew the game open in the top of the third inning.

Following some aggressive baserunning from Andrew McCutchen, Bryce Harper came to the plate with runners on the corners and just one out. The six-time All-Star smashed an RBI single to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

With runners again on first and third, Rhys Hoskins laced a double into left field, which allowed Jean Segura to score and Harper to advance to third base.

Former Marlin J.T. Realmuto then kept the line moving with an RBI single of his own, giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Odubel Herrera broke the first and third logjam with a two-run double – one that likely would have been a long home run at Citizens Bank Park – capping a five-run inning:

3rd inning's a charm. pic.twitter.com/OSPN7jlHAz

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 13, 2019

After a Cesar Hernandez single brought home a sixth run in the top of the fifth inning, Andrew McCutchen blasted a 401-foot home run in the top of the eighth, which gave the Phillies the 9-1 lead they eventually won the game by:

? MCCUTCHEN ? pic.twitter.com/X7Ea2CvL26

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 13, 2019

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Jake Arrieta entered the evening with a rather alarming 6.32 FIP and just seven strikeouts. But he was excellent Friday night, as he struck out eight Marlins and allowed just one run over seven innings. It’s the second consecutive start that Arrieta lasted seven innings, though it felt like he labored through seven innings of three-run ball against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday. Tonight, he looked sharp and turned in one of the best starts he’s had since signing with the Phillies ahead of the 2018 season.

Alcantara, who pitched seven scoreless innings against a deflated Phillies team last September, was shelled Friday evening. He gave up 11 hits and six earned runs in five innings. While he deserves credit for working out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first, the 23-year-old is lucky to have only allowed six runs.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: The Marlins band

Bryce Harper stopped after he took a strike in the top of the fourth inning to complain to the home plate umpire that the Marlins band was playing during his at-bat. And they were – it’s not hard to see how that would annoy a hitter. But in Marlins Park – which normally has its roof closed and less than 10,000 fans in attendance – it’s kind of cool.  It takes a stadium that largely had no environment and gives it something unique.

The highlight of a game that was never especially competitive came in the top of the fifth inning, when Cesar Hernandez blooped an RBI single into center field. Not only did his single give the Phillies a 6-0 lead, but it probably should have been caught by either second baseman Starlin Castro or right fielder Austin Dean. The Marlins band – which, at last check, works for the Marlins – started playing “Gonna Fly Now,” the theme song from Rocky, which, of course, took place in Philadelphia.

Next Game

• 6:10 p.m. ET at Marlins Park
• NBC Sports Philadelphia +
• SportsRadio 94 WIP

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