Howard's triple sparks Phillies over Marlins
MIAMI -- Ryan Howard snapped an 0-for-11 slump with his first triple of the season, and it set in motion the Phillies' 6-2 comeback victory over the Marlins on Sunday at Marlins Park. Philadelphia snapped a five-game losing streak, and Miami capped its homestand at 7-2.
Miami right-hander Jarred Cosart hadn't allowed a run in 16 innings, spread over three starts. But in the fifth inning, the Phillies tied it at 1 on Ben Revere's RBI single. In the sixth inning, the Phillies claimed the lead for good. After Darin Ruf was hit by a pitch, Howard's triple tied it. Grady Sizemore's RBI single gave the Phillies the lead for good.
"We had some timely hitting with some men on base, had some opportunities, and came through with some guys swinging the bat," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It was a good combination."
Video: PHI@MIA: Revere slaps a run-scoring single to left
The Marlins, winners of four straight series, rested regulars Dee Gordon and Martin Prado. Ichiro Suzuki scored on Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly in the first inning, but Phillies right-hander Severino Gonzalez gave up just two runs in five innings with five strikeouts.
The Phillies added a pair of runs in the seventh inning, with one unearned. Howard drove in his second run of the game with a single off Bryan Morris. Miami had a string of 11 straight games of allowing three or fewer runs snapped.
"We just couldn't hold it," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "We've done a pretty good job holding our leads. Our pitchers have done a great job over these last 10 games. When we have leads, they're shutting them down. We weren't able to do that today. That's going to happen." More >
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ichiro turns up the speed: With Gordon getting the day off, Ichiro led off for the first time this season. The 41-year-old put his legs to use in the first inning. After drawing a leadoff walk, Ichiro swiped second and third. He scored on Stanton's sacrifice fly. Ichiro now has 489 career stolen bases.
Video: PHI@MIA: Ichiro creates run with walk, stolen bases
Getting on the board: Revere's two-out RBI single in the fifth not only tied the ballgame at 1 but also snapped a stretch of 18 consecutive scoreless innings for the Phillies' offense. Revere, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Sunday, produced his first RBI in five games.
Solano brothers step up: The Marlins reclaimed a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on back-to-back hits from brothers Donovan and Jhonatan Solano. Batting seventh and eighth, Donovan singled to open the fifth and he scored on Jhonatan's double to the wall in left. It was the first time in club history two brothers were in the same lineup. More >
Video: PHI@MIA: J. Solano drives in brother on an RBI double
Shutting it down: After the Phillies took a 3-2 lead on Howard's RBI triple in the sixth inning, righty Justin De Fratus came on in relief of Gonzalez. Given the task of facing Miami's 3-4-5 batters, including Stanton, De Fratus struck out the side swinging on 10 pitches (nine strikes).
Video: PHI@MIA: De Fratus fans the side on 10 pitches
"I thought De Fratus in the sixth inning was big," Sandberg said. "We had just taken the lead and it was a shutdown inning with the heart of the order. Three strikeouts. That was probably the key."
Flashing the leather: Odubel Herrera robbed Adeiny Hechavarria of an extra-base hit in the eighth inning with a sprinting, over-the-shoulder catch. Herrera, who has started 22 games in center field, entered the game in the seventh inning as a defensive substitution. More >
Video: PHI@MIA: Herrera jumps to snag line drive in center
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Howard's go-ahead RBI triple off Cosart in the sixth inning marked his first triple since April 20, 2014, against then-Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio at Coors Field.
"I tried to go up there for that third [at-bat] and just see the ball and get a little bit better flow and rhythm, and I was able to do that on the first couple of pitches," Howard said. "That third [at-bat], I found something. That fastball… there it was."
FLASH BREAK
Gordon has been sizzling hot, hitting in eight straight games, including six straight multi-hit games. But on Sunday, the Marlins gave Gordon his first day off of the season. Redmond, noting the club is about to begin a 10-game road trip, rested Gordon, as well as third baseman Prado, who was struck by a Jonathan Papelbon fastball in the left hamstring on Saturday.
"I'd love to sit here and say we can play nine guys for 162 games, but that's not possible,'' Redmond said. "We need to keep guys moving in and out as much as we possibly can. Knowing that we've got a big road trip, tough road trip [ahead], we've got to keep all those guys fresh with all the travel going from East Coast to West Coast. This thing is a grind. You've got to keep these players fresh for the long haul."
WHAT'S NEXT
Phillies: The Phillies conclude their 10-game road trip in Atlanta against the National Least East rival Braves Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Aaron Harang (2-2, 2.51) and Alex Wood (1-1, 4.03) matchup for the second time in three starts. Philadelphia won the last meeting, 1-0. Harang spent last season with the Braves.
Marlins: The Marlins wrapped up their nine-game homestand on Sunday, and on Monday, they open the first of 10 games on the road. Miami starts off with three games at Washington at 7:05 p.m. ET. David Phelps (1-0, 3.38) will face Washington for the first time in his career. The Nationals are going with Jordan Zimmermann (2-2, 4.88). Zimmermann no-hit Miami at Nationals Park in the 2014 season finale.
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