In kicking off a series against the second-place Florida Marlins, the Philadelphia Phillies were happy to welcome the recently disabled Joe Blanton back to their starting rotation. And while Blanton wasn't particularly effective on Monday night, he was a heck of a lot better than Florida's Javier Vazquez, and the Phillies came away with a 6-4 win.
Phillies Vs. Marlins: Joe Blanton Returns, Pitches Well Enough To Win
The Phillies struck against Vazquez in the top of the first inning. Jimmy Rollins led off with a long fly to right field that tipped off the leaping Mike Stanton's glove for a solo homer. They nearly scored a second run later on, but Ryan Howard was gunned down at home after a Raul Ibanez single.
The Marlins quickly fought back to take the lead. Against a rusty Blanton, Gaby Sanchez knocked a two-run double in the bottom of the first, and then Chris Coghlan singled home another run in the second to put the hosts up 3-1.
But that lead was wiped out in the third. After the Phillies loaded the bases with one out, Howard plated one with a base hit to right, and Ross Gload another with a roller through the shortstop hole. Another run would score when Emilio Bonifacio's throw home after Gload's single was too high, and Vazquez couldn't handle John Buck's throw while covering the plate.
Ahead 4-3, the Phillies added two more in the fifth with a sac fly by Placido Polanco and another RBI single from Gload. After that, the Marlins didn't really threaten, and while Gaby Sanchez knocked out a solo shot in the eighth, that was all the Marlins would do the rest of the way en route to their fourth loss in five games.
Blanton threw 66 pitches over five innings in his start, allowing three runs on ten baserunners, with four double plays turned behind him. Vazquez, meanwhile, lasted just 4-1/3, surrendering six runs on ten baserunners of his own. His ERA has ballooned to 6.88, and he’s allowed at least four runs in five of his seven starts. He clearly hasn’t rebounded since returning to the National League, and any day now could find himself out of a job.
Marlins reliever Edward Mujica was carted off the field with a knee injury, but isn't expected to require a stint on the disabled list.
On Tuesday night, the series livens up with perhaps the pitching matchup of the season, as Roy Halladay goes against Josh Johnson.
For more on the Phillies and Marlins, please visit team blogs The Good Phight and Fish Stripes.
See More:
