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 After all, Redmond made three substitutions in the top of the
previous frame. And whatever strings he pulled, it worked.
The Marlins sent eight guys to the plate in the top of the ninth and
turned a 4-1 deficit into a stunning 5-4 victory -- spoiling the
home team's chance at a sweep.
Following the rally, Papelbon was ejected after an obscene gesture
toward the Philadelphia fans, who were voicing their displeasure
with the effort of the sometimes controversial closer.
The rally was started by Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who
doubled to the right-center-field gap. Then, Papelbon walked second
baseman Enrique Hernandez before allowing shortstop Adeiny
Hechavarria to reach on an infield single, loading the bases.
Pinch hitter Jordany Valdespin grounded out to first base, plating
one run. Left fielder Christian Yelich bounced a chopper over
Papelbon's head for an infield single, scoring another run. Justin
Bour would then pinch hit for Reed Johnson, and Bour's single plated
Hechavarria with the tying run. The Marlins' go-ahead run came one
batter later on a wild pitch from Papelbon.
The Phillies threatened in the bottom half of the inning, getting
the first two runners on base, but Marlins closer Steve Cishek was
able to strike out the side for his 35th save of the season.
"You could see the momentum and the energy turn," Redmond said.
"Guys kept battling and we got the big hit. It was definitely dicey
in the (bottom of) the ninth. But we've been there a few times
before, Cishek pitched out of it."
Everything was going smoothly for the Phillies before Papelbon took
the hill in the ninth.
Phillies starting pitcher David Buchanan (6-7, 3.90 ERA) was in line
for the win after tossing 6 1/3 innings of one-run baseball.
Buchanan allowed five hits and struck out a pair of batters. The
only blemish on his pitching line came in the fourth inning, when
Hernandez roped a line drive over the right-field wall for a home
run.
Buchanan got Hechavarria to ground out to start the seventh inning
with the Phillies ahead 3-1. Pinch hitter Ed Lucas then sent a
comebacker to Buchanan, who had trouble handling it before throwing
it too low to first baseman Ryan Howard. With the Marlins top of the
order due up, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg to take Buchanan out
after throwing 89 pitches in favor of the bullpen.
Reliever Antonio Bastardo cleaned up the seventh inning in two
batters. Then Justin De Fratus pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning before
Papelbon took the hill the ninth.
"Buchanan was good for his 6 1/3 innings," Sandberg said. "He was
solid with his fastball, had a good changeup. Bastardo, De Fratus
put up the zero. They put together some hits, had a walk off of Pap
with the four runs coming in.
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Buchanan continues to impress with the hopes of staking a claim for
a spot in the Phillies' 2015 rotation.
"It's all a work in progress," Buchanan said. "You continue to
improve every outing. I'm really just trying to stay true to myself.
Sometimes you go out there and try to do too much."
After Hernandez tied the game 1-1 with his homer in the top of the
fourth, the Phillies responded to score a pair in the bottom half.
With the bases loaded and no one out, left fielder Domonic Brown
grounded into a double play that scored second baseman Chase Utley.
Catcher Carlos Ruiz then blooped a single into left field to plate
Howard and put the Phillies ahead 3-1.
The Phillies added a run in the eighth inning when an Utley grounder
to shortstop drew a throw home from Hechavarria, but it was not in
time to beat the sliding Ben Revere, giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead.
Marlins starting pitcher Tom Koehler (9-10, 3.71 ERA) entered Sunday
having dominated the National League East. But the Phillies were
able to get to him in the fourth inning for a pair of runs.
Koehler pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and three runs (two
earned) while walking one batter and striking out two. Just 53 of
his 90 pitches went for strikes.
"He didn't have his best stuff but he battled, he always battles,"
Redmond said. "He kept us in the game, made pitches."
The Marlins bullpen, which entered Sunday with a league-best 2.64
ERA since the all-star break, allowed just one run and kept Miami in
the game.
"You start breaking down that game from the sixth, seventh, eighth
inning on, all those outs were huge," Redmond said. "It was a great
team effort right there."
NOTES: Since Aug. 18, the Phillies have won six of their eight
series, five of which have come against teams with winning records.
... The Marlins will head to New York for a three-game series with
the Mets on Monday, finishing off a 10-game road trip.
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reserved.]
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