Phils Bats Explode, Run Over Marlins 11-4
Led by Carlos Ruiz's 4 rbi night, the Phils offense was clicking on all cylinders in an 11-4 win over the Marlins in Miami. Ruiz, Werth, Utley, and Dobbs all with homeruns. Ryan Howard knocking in rbi#100, with a 1 run single. Starter Joe Blanton with a solid outing(6 inn, 1 run, 5 hits, 8 K's, 2 BB).
The 2nd place Braves blanked the Nationals 4-0, so the Phils remain 1 game up in the NL East, with 17 games to play.
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Carlos Ruiz finished 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBI as Philadelphia subdued Florida, 11-4, in the opener of a three-game set.
Jayson Werth collected two hits, including a solo home run, drove in two and scored twice for the Phillies, who maintained their one-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East. The Braves topped Washington earlier Monday.
Chase Utley and Greg Dobbs also homered, while Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard added RBI singles for Philadelphia, which won for the sixth time in seven games.
Joe Blanton (7-6) scattered five hits and one run over six innings, fanning eight with two walks. He also singled and scored a run.
Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer and Logan Morrison added a solo shot for the Marlins, who got an RBI double from Chad Tracy but saw their three-game win streak halted.
Andrew Miller (1-2) was charged in defeat for nine hits and seven runs -- five earned -- with five strikeouts and three walks over five full frames.
Werth's one-out homer in the second inning landed just inside of the foul pole in right, then Utley hit a two-out solo homer to deep right in the third for a 2-0 game.
In the fourth, Raul Ibanez walked with one out, then Ruiz slammed a two-run shot above the scoreboard in left to make it 4-0 for the visitors.
With one down in the fifth, Utley walked and stole second ahead of a Howard base on balls. Werth lined a single to left that got away from Morrison, who threw wild to third. The double error plated two runs and left Werth at third. A Ruiz single with two outs scored Werth for Philly's seventh run.
Polanco and Howard added RBI singles in the sixth, then Ruiz worked a bases- loaded, two-out walk for a 10-0 game.
Morrison's leadoff homer in the home sixth spoiled Blanton's shutout bid, but Dobbs answered with a leadoff blast of his own in the seventh.
Uggla's two-run homer reached the seats in left in the eighth against David Herndon and Tracy added a run-scoring double later in the frame.
Danys Baez, who hadn't taken the mound since August 24, closed the door on the Fish with a scoreless ninth.
Game Notes
The Phillies have won 11 of the 16 meetings with Florida this season...Prior to the contest, the Marlins announced that starter Josh Johnson will be shut down for the remainder of the season primarily with back pain but also with shoulder inflammation. The 26-year-old was 11-6 with a 2.30 ERA in 28 starts this year...Blanton has won his last four decisions since July 21, but has not factored in a decision six times since then...Howard's sixth-inning single put him over the 100-RBI mark for the fifth time in his career...Morrison reached base for the 38rd consecutive game...Uggla's blast was his 30th of the season, the fourth straight year he's reached the mark.
