Comeback Phils rally in 8th, hold off Marlins

May 8th, 2016

MIAMI -- Tyler Goeddel and Andres Blanco delivered back-to-back RBI doubles in the decisive eighth inning to rally the Phillies to a series-clinching 6-5 win over the Marlins on Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park.
It was the second consecutive game that the Phillies came back from a late deficit to defeat the Marlins, who have lost consecutive games after entering the series on a four-game winning streak. The victory gives the Phillies an 11-3 record in one-run games this season.
Blanco drives in winner wearing Mother's Day pink
"Winning two out of three from this team, one of the hottest teams in baseball, is really satisfying," Phils manager Pete Mackanin said. "Those guys swing the bats, they've got a heck of a team. To beat them two out of three is a nice feeling going into Atlanta. Our pitching and defense really performed."
Marlins starter Justin Nicolino was staked to a 3-0 lead in the fourth, but the Phillies rallied to tie the game in the sixth and grabbed the lead with a run in the seventh off reliever Nefi Ogando. Nicolino, making his third start of the season, gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings.

Aaron Nola also went six innings, allowing three runs for the Phillies.
The doubles by Goeddel and Blanco came off Marlins reliever David Phelps, who was saddled with the loss after inheriting the lead in the eighth.
"They're fighting. They're playing with a lot of confidence, very similar to what we have been doing all year," Phelps said of the Phillies. "We never really feel like we're out of the game, and I'm sure they feel the same way over in their clubhouse. All three games were hard-fought."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In a pinch: Marlins first baseman Chris Johnson rebounded from a costly error in Saturday's loss to the Phillies by drilling a pinch-hit solo homer over the left-field wall in the seventh inning to tie the game at 4. It was Johnson's first home run this season and the Marlins' first pinch-hit round-tripper. The Marlins would go on to load the bases and took a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly by Justin Bour that scored Ichiro Suzuki.
"Chris gets a big homer to tie it up, and then we get the lead," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "The last couple days we got leads, and they just keep coming." More >

Heads-up baserunning:Odubel Herrera scored from second on Cesar Hernandez's groundout in the seventh inning to break a tie and give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. Herrera, who singled and stole second, went to third on Hernandez's grounder to the right side of the infield. Bour made a nice snag, but his throw to Ogando led him into Hernandez at the bag. The two collided, sending Ogando sprawling. Herrera never hesitated around third.
"That was huge," Mackanin said. "We came back twice."

More than four: After 12 straight games scoring four runs or fewer, the Phils finally broke through with back-to-back eighth-inning RBI doubles from Goeddel and Blanco to give the Phils a 6-5 lead.
"Goeddel, it was great to see him come up with a big hit," Mackanin said. "He needed that." More >

It's baseball, stuff happens: Nicolino was cruising along with a shutout when the Phillies staged a three-run rally in the sixth inning to tie the game. Mattingly said that he thought Nicolino "threw the ball well enough to win." A throwing error by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria contributed to the Phillies' rally in the sixth, but Nicolino had his teammate's back.
"I'd want that ball hit to Hech every time," Nicolino said. "It happens. It's baseball. We're not perfect, but I would do it all over again, same pitch."

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Ichiro, who started in right field to give Giancarlo Stanton a day off, singled in the seventh for his 2,948th career hit. He is seven hits behind Willie Keeler for 32nd on the MLB all-time list.
WHAT'S NEXT
Phillies: After an off-day on Monday, lefty Adam Morgan gets the nod on Tuesday when the Phillies conclude their road trip with a three-game series in Atlanta. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Morgan has allowed three earned runs in each of his previous two outings this season, with no decision in either.
Marlins: Ace Jose Fernandez (3-2, 4.28 ERA) will be on the mound at 7:10 p.m. ET on Monday when the Marlins open a three-game series against the Brewers at Marlins Park. This will be the final series against the Brewers, who will send right-hander Wily Peralta (2-3, 7.50 ERA) to the hill to open the series.
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