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 "They were good tonight," Miami Marlins pitcher Nathan Eovaldi
said.
Eovaldi, depending heavily on his defense, combined with four
relievers on a six-hitter Monday night, as Miami blanked the
Philadelphia Phillies 4-0.
Eovaldi, who last won when he beat the Washington Nationals on May
26, allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out just two while
walking one, and 11 of the 19 outs he recorded came on fly balls to
the outfield.
"They were hit in the air, but they were just missing it," said
Eovaldi, who improved to 5-3.
It was the ninth shutout of the season for Miami, and the 10th time
Philadelphia has been blanked. Eight of those shutouts have come in
Citizens Bank Park, the most the Phillies have been blanked at home
since 1990, when they were also shut out eight times.
"I don't know that I've ever seen a shutout here, at least the games
I've played," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond, once a catcher for
the team. "We executed our pitches. We made the pitches when we
needed to. We were able to hold them, really, in check. There
weren't a ton of hard-hit balls."
 The Phillies, who dropped their third straight since a season-best
five-game winning streak, stranded five, with four in the first four
innings.
"Eovaldi threw the ball well tonight," Phillies first baseman Ryan
Howard said. "We had hits. We just didn't have hits with runners in
scoring position. ... Some nights it happens. Some nights it
doesn't."
Third baseman Casey McGehee doubled home two runs in the first for
Miami, which won for just the second time in six games. Pinch hitter
Reed Johnson and second baseman Derek Dietrich contributed RBI
singles in a two-run ninth.
Eovaldi, who had followed his May 26 victory over Washington with
three no-decisions and a loss, was hit hard in his last two starts
before Monday, allowing 11 runs and 19 hits in 10 2/3 innings.
After wading out of trouble early in the game, he retired eight
straight batters between the fourth and seventh but departed after
allowing a one-out single to third baseman Cody Asche in the
seventh.
"The last outing (a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs), I was just making
too many mistakes over the middle part of the plate when I was ahead
in counts," Eovaldi said. "Tonight I was able to locate the fastball
better and my off-speed pitches were for the most part down in the
zone. The mistakes I did make, they didn't hit as well."
Mike Dunn and A.J. Ramos recorded the last two outs in the seventh.
Kevin Gregg worked a scoreless eighth, in no small part because
shortstop Ed Lucas ranged to his right to spear a smash by catcher
Carlos Ruiz and start a spectacular double play.
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Chris Hatcher pitched a perfect ninth.
Philadelphia starter Roberto Hernandez (3-6) lost for the fourth
time in his last five starts despite limiting Miami to two runs and
three hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked three.
With one out in the first, Marlins second baseman Derek Dietrich
singled. Hernandez then hit right fielder Giancarlo Stanton with a
pitch, and McGehee lined a 1-1 delivery into the gap in right-center
field for a double, chasing home both runners.
Hernandez, 0-for-40 in nine professional seasons (including 0-for-22
this season), picked up his first major league hit, a third-inning
single.
The Phillies, who had not committed an error in their previous 10
games, made two in the ninth -- a bad throw by second baseman Chase
Utley and a bobble by reliever Antonio Bastardo -- leading to two
unearned runs.
NOTES: Marlins manager Mike Redmond recorded his 100th career
victory. ... Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins, who eclipsed Mike Schmidt as
the franchise's all-time hits leader on June 14, was honored before
the game. ... Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said LHP Cliff Lee, on
the disabled list since May 19 with a strained elbow, will throw in
the bullpen again Tuesday. If all goes well, Lee will pitch a
simulated game Saturday. ... Sandberg also said OF Tony Gwynn Jr. is
expected to return from bereavement leave Tuesday, having left the
club last week following the death of his father, Hall of Famer Tony
Gwynn Sr. ... Marlins OF Reed Johnson has a major-league-leading 11
pinch hits this season. ... RHP Aaron Nola, the Phillies'
first-round pick earlier this month, made his professional debut for
Class A Clearwater on Monday night, allowing five runs (two earned)
and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.
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