With a record low crowd at Citizens Bank Park, Phils routed in series finale

Final: Marlins 9, Phillies 1

WP: David Phelps (1-0, 3.55 ERA) LP: Dustin McGowan (1-1, 5.23 ERA)

Philadelphia, P.A. - Just 12 days ago, on April 11, a record low in attendance was set at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies since 2004. The 19,047 paying fans that night broke the previous record of 19,182 set on April 26, 2006, according to MLB.com Phillies' beat reporter Todd Zolecki.

This afternoon, as the Phillies' offense struggled once again to put together a significant rally, another attendance record was set. According to Kevin Cooney of the Bucks County Courier Times, today's official attendance was announced as 17,097, 1,950 fewer fans than the previous record low.

The first frame for McGowan fulfilled everything manager Ryne Sandberg could have asked for out of him. He struck out the first two batters, second baseman Dee Gordon and third baseman Martin Prado, on ten pitches. The next batter, right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, hit into what should have been the third out of the inning, however the Phillies' fifth fielding error of the series was committed by second baseman Cesar Hernandez, which unnecessarily extended the inning for McGowan.

In the bottom of the first, third baseman Cody Asche recorded the first hit of the game with two outs, a pop-up single to shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Asche, however, was called out at second base when trying to advance on the play.

The game remained scoreless up until the top of the fourth inning. Marlins' first baseman Michael Morse and center fielder Marcell Ozuna walked to lead off the frame, and both advanced into scoring position after left fielder Ichiro Suzuki grounded out to Phillies' first baseman Darin Ruf. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia then walked to load the bases for Hechavarria, who followed with a three-run single to right field. That would be it for McGowan after 3.1 innings of work, allowing four earned runs on three hits and four walks. The fourth earned run on his line came that same half-inning, when Prado singled to left fielder Ben Revere off of Hector Neris, who was recalled yesterday from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

In the top of the sixth inning against right handed reliever Justin De Fratus, the Marlins added-on two additional runs to increase their lead to 6-0. With Hechavarria on second and Gordon on first, who reached due to a throwing error by shorstop Andres Blanco, a Prado double to right brought both runners home. Stanton then followed with what Phillies' play-by-play radio announcer Scott Franzke called it as a 'supersonic blast' to left field, his fourth home run of the season, to put the Marlins on top 8-0.

Phillies' left hander Jake Diekman, who threw 18 pitches last evening, tossed a scoreless inning of relief this afternoon in the top of the eighth.

Miami added an additional insurance run in the top of the ninth off of Jeanmar Gomez. Ozuna lead-off the inning with his third double of the season, and was later advanced to third after Suzuki grounded out to short. Two batters later, Ozuna was brought home as Hechavarria singled to center fielder Odubel Herrera.

The Phillies' sole run this afternoon came in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out already recorded from an Asche strikeout, right fielder Jeff Francoeur singled to left field. Ruf followed with his third double of the season, and second hit of the afternoon, which put two runners into scoring position. Francoeur was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Hernandez, however a rally was not able to be formulated as Blanco grounded out to Morse two batters later to end the inning, and subsequently the game.

Starting Pitchers

• Phelps: W; 95 pitches, 61 strikes; 4 groundouts, 5 flyouts; 25 faced batters
• McGowan: L; 76 pitches, 46 strikes; 3 groundouts, 3 flyouts; 17 faced batters

Out of the 'Pen

Marlins

• Mike Dunn (8th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 7.71 ERA
• Nick Masset (9th): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 4.50 ERA

Phillies

• Hector Neris (4th, 5th): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA
• Justin De Fratus (6th, 7th): 2.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR, 5.00 ERA
• Jake Diekman (8th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 9.00 ERA
• Jeanmar Gomez (9th): 1.0, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.52 ERA

NL East Standings

What's Next

 Friday, April 24, 2015: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 pm

• LHP Alex Wood (1-0, 3.93 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Harang (2-1, 1.96 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)

Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.