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Miami Marlins unload on Philadelphia Phillies, take series

ByTravis Honeycutt|

Well, would you look at that.

Finally, the Miami Marlins bats came to life and were able to put runs on the board without the aid of fielding errors and miscues. Wednesday afternoon’s rubber match with the Lehigh Valley Iron PigsPhiladelphia Phillies saw Miami’s lineup explode for nine runs, including a Giancarlo Stanton two-run laser shot, to clinch the midweek series at Citizens Bank Park.

The Marlins racked up 12 hits, and you can all point and laugh at us know-it-alls at Marlin Maniac because, yes, Adeiny Hechavarria even went 4-for-4 with three RBI.

Martin Prado also came out of it somewhat, going 3-for-5 at the dish with a season-high (for any Marlin) four RBI, and his third double of the year.

Miami put four runs on the board in the fourth inning and then four more in the sixth to cap off the afternoon’s scoring. The rest of the contest, as has been the case all season, the Marlins’ bats were virtually silent and just kind of trudged through things, except for the ninth when Hechavarria tacked on another insurance run. But they scored nine times, the team’s second highest total on the young season, so we’ll take it.

We might have reached zero hour of Jarrod Saltalamacchia‘s tenure in Miami. The now-backup to J.T. Realmuto went 0-for-4 at the plate–he also grounded into a double play in the seventh–to bring his season average down to .069. But hey, he walked once!

David Phelps, in his first start as a Marlin, was brilliant in his seven innings of scoreless work. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.

But here’s why: If you weren’t watching the game, like many of us because today was one of those lousy radio-exclusive no-TV days, please direct your attention to the lineup Ryne Sandberg so pleasingly scribed this morning:

That’s just…that’s just rough, man. That right there is borderline 2013 Marlins status.

The bargain bin lineup scattered eight hits on the day.

At least they had Grady Sizemore and the shell of what’s left of the 2008 World Series team on the bench to save the day, in case the game would be close late (It wasn’t.)

That Dustin McGowan fellow, making his first start of the season, lasted just 3.1 innings in which he gave up three hits and struck out four. But he also walked four, and the reliever-by-trade was on a short leash and got stamped with the loss on the day.

The Phillies’ lone run came on a ninth inning Cesar Hernandez sacrifice fly off Marlins reliever Nick Masset.

The crowd of 17,097 was the smallest in the 11-year history of Citizens Bank Park. And I can’t imagine they all stuck around for the whole game.

Sorry Phillies fans, it’s nothing personal. I mean all these jabs in good fun, but I must admit it feels absolutely fantastic being able to finally bask in the futility that has become the Phillies franchise after all those years of them utterly dominating the National League East, and especially, the Marlins. Every team (well, most teams) has their time to shine, and it’s safe to say the Phillies’ long run is behind them. Not that the Marlins are looking great this year, granted, but my point stands.

And now Marlins fans can revel in the team’s second winning streak of the year, and hope that they can build off this momentum as they head to Washington, D.C. for a three-game weekend set against the supposed-juggernaut Nationals.

Follow Marlin Maniac on Twitter @MarlinManiac for all your Miami Marlins news, opinion and analysis!

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