Birthday boy Gordon pressures Phillies into gift runs

PHILADELPHIA -- The Marlins hadn't caught many breaks over a five-game losing streak, so on a night they desperately needed a win, the best thing to do was create their own breaks. Considering it was his 27th birthday, who better to create the very situations the team needed than Dee Gordon?

In the seventh inning of a tied game, Adeiny Hechavarria reached third and Gordon stood on first with two outs against Phillies reliever Luis Garcia. Gordon made it clear he had every intention of trying to steal second base, and his presence rattled Garcia enough to balk home the go-ahead run in Miami's 6-1 victory.

"I was about to go," said Gordon, who went 1-for-5, but was on base three times due to a fielder's choice and a three-base error. "And [Garcia] did his thing for me to go. I was gone, then he noticed I was going to go, freaked out and stepped off."

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! And my teammates for the win! pic.twitter.com/bXDlJ6OYpD

- Dee Gordon (@FlashGJr) April 23, 2015

Given that it was Gordon's birthday, maybe it was fitting that he received the biggest gift of all in the eighth, when he cleared the bases on an error by Odubel Herrera, as the Phillies' center fielder dropped a ball in center with two outs and the bases loaded. Herrera, a converted second baseman, started shallow and got twisted around on the high fly to straightaway center before he dropped the ball.

Video: MIA@PHI: Three runs score on Herrera's miscue

"We needed a break," Gordon said. "I'm glad I could help."

The first break of the night came in the second, when Marcell Ozuna scored on a ground ball to the right side by Marlins starter Jarred Cosart with two outs. On the play, Ryan Howard came off the bag at first as he dove for the ball. Phillies second baseman Chase Utley picked up the ball, but pitcher Cole Hamels dropped the throw and the Marlins took a 1-0 lead.

Video: MIA@PHI: Ozuna crosses the plate on Hamels' miscue

"We sat there on the bench and said, 'Something has got to go our way,'" manager Mike Redmond said. "It did, we took advantage of those breaks and Dee Gordon hit that ball well to center and we got the win."