Phils Beat Marlins Again, 5-4, Remain On Periphery Of Race
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cesar Hernandez hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth, seven relievers combined on seven shutout innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Miami 5-4 Saturday night for their second straight win over the Marlins following a five-game losing streak.
Philadelphia overcame a 4-0 deficit and closed within 6½ games of first-place Atlanta in the NL East with 15 games left. The Phillies remained five games back for the NL's second wild-card spot, improving to 11-7 against the Marlins — including 8-1 at home.
JT Riddle had a pair of doubles and three RBIs for the Marlins, who have lost five straight and at 57-91 are trying to avoid what would be only the third 100-loss season in team history.
Luis Garcia (3-1) got the last two outs in the fifth, and Pat Neshek pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save in six chances. Philadelphia relievers allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked none.
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Phillies starter Vince Velasquez gave up four runs and four hits in two innings. Velasquez is 1-3 in his last seven starts and has gotten an out past the fifth inning just once since July 22.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly started reliever Jarlin Garcia, and the lefty pitched a perfect first inning. Miami used seven pitchers.
Miami took a 4-0 lead with two outs in the second on Austin Dean's RBI single and Riddle's three-run double.
Justin Bour, pinch hitting for Velasquez, hit a two-run single in the bottom half off Brett Graves, runs that were unearned because Dean allowed Carlos Santana's fly to drop behind him on the left-field warning track for an error.
Hernandez homered off Drew Rucinski (4-2).
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