PHILADELPHIA -- Marlins left-hander Adam Conley accomplished a couple of things on Monday in a 5-3 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He pitched at a quick pace and controlled the running game in the process.
In that regard, it was a win-win situation for the 25-year-old, who enjoyed a nice bounceback performance after the roughest outing of his season.
Conley gave up one run on eight hits with five strikeouts and a walk over six innings. Also worth noting, he didn't allow a stolen base.
It was a different outcome than his previous start, a 10-2 loss to the Brewers on May 10 at Marlins Park. In four innings, Conley was tagged for four runs, and he watched Milwaukee swipe four bases.
"The Brewers, in the last start, were running all over me," the lefty said. "Typically, that doesn't happen. We think they had me pegged on something. They were seeing something. I was kind of giving them that good jump."
One obvious difference on Monday was Conley used a slide step with fast runners on base. Against Milwaukee, he raised his front leg higher out of the stretch, which slowed his delivery.
Conley went to the slide step in the fifth inning after Odubel Herrera singled.
"I just need to do my job better of keeping them closer," Conley said. "So I was trying to vary the looks a little more, show them some different moves. The step off move to basically give them too much to think about to really get comfortable to get a big lead and try to run."
The fifth inning was a telling moment in the game. Miami had gone ahead, 2-1, and Herrera represented the tying run.
Conley used the slide step to keep him close. But picking up the pace, he also threw a wild pitch that advanced Herrera to second. From there, Conley kept the runner in check and struck out Cesar Hernandez and Maikel Franco. The inning ended when Carlos Ruiz lifted a routine fly ball to right.
"We worked on some things and found some things on tape of what he was doing," manager Don Mattingly said. "I know he's put time on it.
"I thought a couple of times he got a little too fast and cost himself a wild pitch in there, but in general, he changed some things up which gave him a different look."
Conley's overall performance was better. He was able to pitch inside to right handers, and his pitches had more life than his previous start.
"He looked like he had a little more finish on his ball tonight," Mattingly said. "He drove the ball in there a little more to righties. He was able to use his changeup some. His slider seemed like it was OK at times.
"He was definitely sharper as far as compared to last time."