In their first two games against the Miami Marlins this week, the Philadelphia Phillies have shown they can count on offensive production from different sources.
The Phillies hope to enjoy another positive performance on Wednesday afternoon when they go for a sweep of the visiting Marlins.
In Monday’s 7-0 victory, the last four hitters in the Philadelphia order combined to go 7-for-16 with two homers and five RBIs.
On Tuesday, the Phillies rode the upper half of their lineup to an 8-2 triumph. The top five hitters collectively notched five hits, including three homers and a triple.
“It just shows what kind of team we have,” said Brandon Marsh, who batted leadoff for the first time this season on Tuesday and responded with a home run. “Last night, it was the bottom half. Tonight, top half. It’s just a testament to the guys we have in this clubhouse.”
One of the Phillies’ clubhouse leaders is Kyle Schwarber, who hit his major-league-leading 25th homer of the season in Tuesday’s win.
“He’s the man. I couldn’t be happier for him,” said Jesus Luzardo, who struck out nine batters in seven innings to pick up the victory.
As for the Marlins, they have only two runs in the first two games of the series. Overall, they have dropped five of six matchups with the Phillies this season.
“I just chalk that one up to a good old-fashioned [butt]-kicking,” Miami starter Tyler Phillips said after giving up eight runs in four innings.
Still, help is on the way for the Marlins, who will turn to right-hander Sandy Alcantara (6-4, 4.25 ERA) in the series finale. The former National League Cy Young Award winner has captured all three of his starts this month, posting a 2.86 ERA in wins over the Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates.
“The first two haven’t gone real well here,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said of the current series. “Sandy (on Wednesday); we’ll look to bounce back and try to salvage the last one.”
Alcantara is 6-11 with a 3.88 ERA in 22 lifetime starts against the Phillies. He faced them three times last season, going 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA.
“He recognizes; he’s got such good awareness,” McCullough said. “For most of his career here, that’s what he’s been and been counted on. I don’t think it will be anything new for him. He’ll just be more focused on going out there and executing his pitches.”
Philadelphia will counter with rookie Andrew Painter (1-7, 6.43 ERA), who had a solid start against the Marlins on May 2. The right-hander gave up three runs in five innings that day, with a career-high-tying seven strikeouts in a 4-0 defeat.
Most recently, Painter received a no-decision despite being charged with five runs in five innings in a 6-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.
“I was actually happy with the way he threw the ball,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “He threw the ball a lot better tonight than I’ve seen him, honestly. You saw aggressiveness. His breaking stuff was good at times. … You can look at it however you want and say he gave up some runs, but for me it’s a step in the right direction.”
–Field Level Media
