A majority of baseall experts and casual onlookers alike pegged the Miami Marlins as basement dwellers not only in the National League East, but in the majors overall. Instead, they sat just 5.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second Wild Card spot heading into tonight's game. Their heroic battle, however, may have come crashing down last night. Miami had already lost their young ace Jose Fernandez to Tommy John surgery earlier this season, and were left with Giancarlo Stanton as their headliner. Stanton was well on his way to becoming the National League MVP when an errant pitch from the Milwaukee Brewers Mike Friers nailed him directly in the side of the face, forcing him out of the game for the remainder of the 2014 season.
Now, the Marlins came into town having to muster every bit of strength they had if they want to jump four teams into the playoffs. Unfortunately for their bats, Cole Hamels was due to take to the mound, and with Henderson Alvarez making his return to the rotation, the game was almost certain to be a nail-biter.
The Game: Though not on the absolute top of his game, Cole Hamels was solid through the first five innings of tonight's contest. Five strikeouts added to six hits allowed meant Hamels was throwing a high amount of pitches, but doing so effectively, shutting out the Marlins to that point. His biggest scare came with two men in scoring position in the fourth, when Cody Asche grabbed a ground ball and nabbed Casey McGehee trying to score.
The bigger problem was that the guy pitching for the opposing team was doing nearly the exact same. Henderson Alvarez, after returning from a single missed start, struckout three while allowing five hits in the first five, sacing himself with a ton of groundball outs. Going into the sixth frame, the game remained scoreless.
Inning number six began modestly for Hamels. Marcell Ozuna grounded out to start things off, while a Jeff Baker single put one runner on. Hamels then forced Jarrod Saltalamacchia to fly out to Ben Revere in center, putting two away. The next batter was Ed Lucas, and he would bounce a ball high in the air toward Asche at third. After making the catch, Asche threw the ball high to Howard at first, forcing a bang-bang play that was ultimately ruled a base hit. Ryne Sandberg ultimately decided to ask for a replay, but the call stood, and the runners now stood on the corners. Adeiny Hechavarria would step in next, and broke through with an RBI base hit. With that run, the Marlins secured the 1-0 lead.
Fortunately for the Phillies and their fans, that lead lasted just half an inning. Chase Utley doubled with one away, and when Lucas had trouble with the play in right, Utley moved up to third. Ryan Howard would strikeout, leaving it up to Marlon Byrd. During Byrd's at bat, a breaking ball from Henderson Alvarez bounced through Saltalamacchia's legs and hit the backstop. On his second heads up play of the inning, Utley scored to tie the game at one a side. Byrd would eventually get hit by a pitch, and Domonic Brown singled to threaten again. However, a groundout from Carlos Ruiz ended the inning.
Each starting pitcher would be removed after the seventh inning, neither in line for a decision in tonight's game. Hamels had accumulated 111 pitches, while Alvarez had just surpassed the 100 pitch marker. Ken Giles would hold his opponents scoreless in the top half of the eighth, while Mike Dunn walked both Utley and Howard in his half of the inning. A.J. Ramos was then summoned to replace Dunn, and Ramos forced Marlon Byrd to ground into a double play to finish the inning.
Jonathan Papelbon replaced Giles in the ninth inning. Maikel Franco also came into the game to play first after Tony Gwynn Jr. pinch ran for Howard the previous inning. The Marlins were set down in order, and the Phillies would have their chance to win it in the ninth.
Chris Hatcher came in for that ninth inning, and quickly wisked away the three Phils batters he saw. For the twentieth time this season, the Phillies would head into extra innings.
Jake Diekman came in for the Phillies in the 10th and set the Marlins down 1-2-3. Meanwhile, the Phillies wasted no time in their half of the 10th. Ben Revere singled and then Cody Asche, who had been splitting time with Maikel Franco, launched a walk-off two-run homer to right, to win the game for the Phillies, 3-1.
Notable Offensive Statistics:
- Cody Asche: 2-5, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI
- Chase Utley: 2-3, 2B, R, BB
- Domonic Brown: 2-4
Impact: The Phillies and Marlins offenses were rather silent tonight, combining for just two runs over the first nine innings. Cole Hamels logged a stellar start, allowing just one run on nine hits while striking out six. The Phils bullpen was also very good tonight as Giles, Papelbon and Diekman all hurled scoreless frames. Cody Asche, hitting second for the first time, exceled in the spotlight, smacking the walk-off homer for the Phils after they had lost three of four to Pittsburgh. Despite his good night, expect Sandberg to platoon him and Franco at the hot corner for the remainder of the season.
Up next: Tomorrow, Kyle Kendrick (8-12, 4.83) will look to rebound from a start in which he gave up five runs to the Pirates. He cruised through seven innings, but was left in to start the eighth while already having thrown 111 pitches. The Marlins will oppose with Brad Hand (3-6, 4.45).
Andrew Gillen & Brandon Apter, Managing & Publishing Editors of Philliedelphia.com
