Recap: Florida vs. Philadelphia
Sports Network | September 21, 2008
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz each hit a two-run home run as the Philadelphia Phillies took a 5-2 win over the Florida Marlins to wrap up a three-game series.
Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored while Jamie Moyer (15-7) pitched six innings and gave up just one run on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts for the Phillies, who have won nine of their last 10.
The win moves Philadelphia to 1 1/2 games ahead of New York, which lost to Atlanta on Sunday, for first place in the NL East.
John Baker went 4-for-5 with a run scored while Josh Willingham went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Marlins, who have dropped two straight after a franchise-high nine-game winning streak. Chris Volstad (5-4) worked five innings and was charged with three runs -- two earned -- on six hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.
Florida sits five games behind New York for the NL Wild Card.
Philadelphia grabbed the lead in the third inning. Rollins led off the frame with a double and Utley then jumped on a 1-0 fastball that just cleared the wall over right-center for a 2-0 lead.
The Phils benefited from a Florida miscue in the fourth to plate another run. With two outs, Carlos Ruiz singled to keep the inning alive. Moyer then lofted a soft fly ball to right field that Cody Ross lost in the sun and Ruiz made it to third on the drop. Rollins then hit a slow chopper to second and beat out the throw to first, allowing Ruiz to score for a 3-0 lead.
Florida finally got to Moyer in the sixth inning. With one out, Willingham doubled to left, but Ross followed with a groundout as Willingham was held at second. Alfredo Amezaga, though, then hit a single to left and Willingham came home to make it a 3-1 game.
Chad Durbin took the mound to start the seventh and got the first batter out, but a double from Baker and a single by Jorge Cantu put runners on the corners and J.C. Romero took the mound.
Romero got Mike Jacobs to line out, but then walked Dan Uggla to load the bases. Willingham followed with a sharp grounder to third that Greg Dobbs made a nice grab on, but he was unable to make a play to any bag and Baker crossed the plate.
Clay Condrey then took the mound for the Phils and got Ross to ground into a fielder's choice to escape the inning and keep it a one-run game.
Philadelphia gave itself some breathing room in the eighth inning. With Joe Nelson on the mound, Shane Victorino led off the frame with a single and Feliz followed by depositing a 1-0 pitch into the left field stands for a 5-2 lead.
Ryan Madson worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Brad Lidge took the mound to close out the ninth.
He gave up a leadoff single to Baker, but then got Cantu to hit into a fielder's choice with Baker out at second. The closer then struck out Jacobs, but walked Uggla. Lidge, though, struck out pinch-hitter Dallas McPherson to pick up his 40th save in as many opportunities this season.
Utley's home run was his 32nd of the season, which ties his career-high. Also, he now has 99 RBI on the season and is just six shy of his career-high in that category...The Phillies have homered in 17 straight games, which is a new franchise record...Philadelphia, which went 44-37 on the road this season, starts a three-game series against Atlanta at home on Tuesday...Florida, which went 45-36 at home this season, plays a game in Cincinnati on Monday...The Marlins won 10 of the 18 games against Philadelphia this season...The win was the 245th in Moyer's career, which ties him with Dennis Martinez for 48th place all-time. In addition, he is 11-1 in 12 career starts against Florida...The Phillies are 75-0 when leading after eight innings this season...Victorino has a 10-game hitting streak...Cantu has an 11-game hitting streak.
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