Phillies drop series to Marlins despite good outing from Nola

The Philadelphia Phillies (67-62) have dropped a must-win series against the Miami Marlins (47-82), despite getting a good performance out of ace Aaron Nola. Today’s 3-2 loss against the Marlins is their fifth loss of the season at Marlins Park.

Both offenses took a while to get going. Both starting pitchers were excellent through the middle innings. The only real highlight play that came while both offenses were reeling was in the bottom of the first. With one out, Marlins third baseman Starlin Castro thought it would be a good idea to try to take a base on J.T. Realmuto. Nola threw a knuckle curve low and away that was in the dirt, but Realmuto was able to scoop it up and throw out Castro at second to catch his 30 baserunner of the season:

Even J.T. is shaking his head at the thought of teams thinking they can steal a base while he’s behind the plate.
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) August 25, 2019

The Phillies offense finally struck in the sixth. With two outs César Hernández pulled a fly ball over the head of Marlins right fielder Harold Ramirez for a long single. Hernández did not hustle out of the box initially and as a result, he was on first on a play where he should have definitely been on second. That did not come back to haunt the Phillies as Rhys Hoskins would end his career long home run drought at 84 plate appearances and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead:

Rhys launches his first homer since August 3 to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) August 25, 2019

The Phillies lead did not last long as the Marlins jumped on Nola in the bottom of the sixth. The Fish would get on the board with a John Berti RBI single and take the lead on a two-run RBI double from Starlin Castro, who apparently, has gone to more All-Star games them both Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard:

No Phillies lead is safe. Even when the ace is on the mound.
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— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) August 25, 2019

The Phillies would fail to get another run home and suffer yet another defeat to the last place Marlins. The team will hope to start a new winning streak tomorrow when they return home to Citizens Bank Park to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jason Vargas will take the mound in the series opener.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Elieser Hernandez: 6IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 5SO

Aaron Nola: 7IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 7SO

Both starters dominated opposing hitters up until the sixth inning. Hernandez gave up a two-run home run to Hoskins while the Marlins sat on Nola’s curveball in the sixth and brought in three runs home. Nola did just what was asked of him, but the Phillies offense was just unable to support him.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Starlin Castro

All of the offense today came in the sixth inning for both sides. Castro who came into this game a career .296 hitter against the Phillies, had the most important hit of the inning as his two-run RBI double gave the Marlins the series win. He’s been on a tear as of recent, batting .330 with five home runs and 24 RBI in the month of August.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Monday at 7:05 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park
• NBC Sports Philadelphia 
• Sportsradio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680 

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