May 21, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Marlins’ team winning streak against the Phillies was snapped at 3 games on Tuesday night as the Phillies beat the Fish 7-3. Miami had taken the first game of the series 5-1, and also won the last two games in which the teams squared off by a combined score of 16-2.

Marlins starter Jose Fernandez was off his game, but still finished with a respectable line. The young righty gave up five hits, including a home run to Delmon Young, over his five innings of work. He walked one but struck out just two before being pulled after 79 pitches.

When Fernandez was taken out of the game, the Marlins were down 1-0 and had the tying run on third base with one out in the fifth. Pinch hitter Jordan Brown plated the run, but unfortunately it took just ten pitches for reliever Duane Below to cough up the lead. Below ultimately gave up three earned runs, as Ryan Webb allowed his two inherited runners to score. Webb then gave up two of his own runs, ending his scoreless inning steak at 17 1/3, the sixth-longest ever by a Marlins reliever.

Worth noting is that Fernandez had just three swing-and-miss strikes all game, which is one reason for his low strikeout total. Despite his stuff being off, he was able to work the Phillies hitters effectively. In 17 innings against the Phillies this season, Fernandez has struck out 16 and allowed just 1 run on 8 hits.

Up next: The Marlins will try to take the rubber game as Cliff Lee faces off against Kevin Slowey.

May 20, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Marcell Ozuna (right) greets teammate center fielder Justin Ruggiano (left) during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

After dropping his last five decisions, right hander Alex Sanabia tossed 6.1 strong innings, allowing only one run off seven hits, picking up the win. The Marlins scored five runs on eleven hits, led by Justin Ruggiano’s 2 RBI night. Miami did not draw a walk all night against Philadelphia, including the starter Cole Hamels who apparently stormed out of the clubhouse after the game.

Cole Hamels stormed out of the clubhouse and declined to speak to reporters.

(tweet)

Marcell Ozuna opened Miami’s five-run onslaught in the first inning, scoring Adeiny Hechavarria on a single to center. The onslaught was put on hold for five innings, during which Sanabia surrendered a solo home run to Dom Brown.

Perhaps out of guilt for snuffing out the rally with his first inning double play, Justin Ruggiano scored Placido Polanco on a double to centerfield. The score was 2-1 going into the seventh, where Sanabia was pulled with runners on the corners and one out in favor of Ryan Webb. Webb stamped out the Philadelphia scare with a flyout and groundout.

Miami piled out three more runs on the righty Justin De Fratus in the eighth inning. A Ruggiano single scored Polanco once again. Nick Green scored Marcell Ozuna and Ruggiano on a single of his own.

A.J. Ramos and Chad Qualls finished the game for Miami, working two scoreless and hitless innings, solidifying the win for the Fish.

With the win, Miami moves to 13-32, a cool 13.5 games behind the NL East leaders, the Atlanta Braves. Game two of this series features Jose Fernandez hosting recently recalled Tyler Cloyd. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 ET.

EDIT:

Hey, cool. Alex Sanabia was spitballin’.

(from CrashburnAlley)

The Great:

We avoided a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks by winning this game 2-1. The inning that that gave us the win was the bottom of the 6^th where the Marlins bats finally came alive— but not at first. We started the inning with Ricky popping out to the seconded baseman; then it was followed by an Adeiny Hechavarria single. Unfortunately, he was not moved up by Placido Polanco who flied out to left field the next at bat. Then came Derek Dietrich who singled to left field moving Adeiny to 3^rd. Up came Marcell Ozuna, who with a 2-1 count and 2 out double off the left field wall scored Hech and Dietrich and the Marlins took a 2-0 lead.  Justin Ruggiano walked and then Chris Coghlan ground out to end the inning… but not without the damaged already done.

The Bad:

Our 9^th inning was not the prettiest inning of the game. We started with Ricky giving up a double to Didi Gregorius ending his day. In came Steve Cishek who started out well by having Paul Goldschmidt ground out to second, but that ground out moved Didi moved to 3^rd. Next came Jason Kubel who sac flied to left field, scoring Didi. Eric Chavez then singled and Martin Prado walked ending Steve’s day. Mike Dunn, who has been on point this season, came in and walked Miguel Montero loading the bases. A. J. Pollock then came up and with a full count and grounded out to the shortstop ending the game and giving The Fish the win. This inning could have been a lot Uglier, but nevertheless it was Bad.

The Ricky:

May 14, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco (47) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

This is the Ricky Nolasco that all the Marlins fans wanted to see all season! Ricky went 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, and a whopping 11 K! He struck out the side in the 5^th and the 8^th. Also having a 1-2-3 inning in the 2^nd (with a double play), the 6^th, and the 7^th. This was his best performance of the season and hopefully he can keep it up for the rest of the season.

In the end, it was a fun game to be at live. The crowd was so alive, the players were playing their hardest, and Ricky was amazing. If we can keep this up all season I can see the fans coming back. Until next time, enjoy your week and Let’s Go Marlins!

May 18, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Tom Koehler (34) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Marlins starter Tom Koehler put on a great show in his third career start on Saturday night, but the bats were too cold to pull out a win as the Miami Marlins lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0.

Koehler pitched six strong innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven and walking two. Unfortunately, one of those hits was a 387 foot leadoff home run to Gerardo Parra, which would end up being the only run scored in the game. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first game since September 14, 1993, in which a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game was the only run scored in the game. In that game two decades ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat – who else? – the Florida Marlins.

Diamondbacks starter Brandon McCarthy went the distance to win his first major league start since suffering a scary head injury last season while with the Oakland Athletics. McCarthy suffered a skull fracture and required season-ending surgery in September of last year. In addition to being his first win this season, the game was also his third career shutout. McCarthy needed just 99 pitches to mow down the Marlins and gave up just three hits, while walking two and striking out five. Derek Dietrich, Adeiny Hechavarria, Marcell Ozuna, and Chris Coghlan were the only Marlins to reach base against McCarthy.

Up next: The Marlins will try to stop their losing streak at seven games and take the third game of the series against Arizona. Ricky Nolasco will face off against Wade Miley. The Marlins are now 11-32, their worst start ever through 43 games.

May 17, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey (45) heads back to the dugout during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

drubbing (n)

1. a beating, as with a stick, cudgel, etc.

2. a comprehensive or heavy defeat

That pretty much sums up Kevin Slowey’s outing tonight against Arizona. Giving up three homers in three consecutive innings probably has Slowey sitting on the post-game training table with icepacks around his neck because of the whiplash generated by watching the exit trajectory of his pitches. Wade LeBlanc finally came in to relieve Slowey in the fourth, and put up four innings of 1-run ball before yielding to Rauch and Webb for the last two.

The Marlins offense wasn’t much better, filling the bases before grounding into inning-ending double plays. Rob Brantly finally hit a chip shot RBI that plated the first run for the Marlins in the seventh inning. Placido Polanco tapped the other run across as a ninth-inning afterthought.  Juan Pierre was able to swipe another bag, but the team stranded six and went 3-8 RISP.

Defensively, two double plays were turned, and no one booted a ball, so there’s that. Maybe what we need to do is to fire Rich and Tommy up in the telecast booth and to drag Bob Uecker out of retirement and put a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in front of him to try and capture some of that Major League magic. Lord knows the roster is almost a perfect match, as is the owner. Why not the broadcast booth?  Maybe we can find a couple of irascible Japanese groundskeepers to really round out the cast.

In other less-than-happy news, Giancarlo Stanton still can’t even jog on his sprung hammy.  The 15-day DL trip might stretch to 60. Kudos to Marcell Ozuna for stepping up so well.