Phillies 3, Marlins 1
PHILADELPHIA -- Chad Billingsley, continuing his comeback from arm problems, pitched five shutout innings on Saturday night as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 3-1.
It was the second victory in three starts for Billingsley (2-3), who missed nearly two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2013. The former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher made three starts for the Phillies in May, then missed six weeks with a strained right shoulder.
Against the Marlins, Billingsley gave up several hard-hit balls but just four hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Reliever Ken Giles wriggled out of a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon, the last of five Philadelphia pitchers, worked a scoreless ninth for his 15th save in as many opportunities.
As was the case when Papelbon entered Friday night's 6-3 victory over the Marlins, he was booed by the home fans after his introduction. He said during the All-Star break that the team should "(blank) or get off the pot" and deal him before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
The Phillies won back-to-back games for the first time since taking three straight on June 21-23.
Miami dropped its sixth straight on the road. The Marlins, who have also lost 13 of 15 away from home, own the major leagues' second-worst road record at 14-30. Only the Phillies (11-37) are worse.
Marlins starter Tom Koehler (7-6) allowed three runs in the first two innings but lasted six innings. He retired the last 12 batters he faced and 14 of 15. He yielded just three hits, all in the first inning, while striking out three and walking two.
The Phillies broke out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI singles by first baseman Ryan Howard and right fielder Domonic Brown.
Two Marlins errors, including a wild throw by Koehler after Billingsley's sacrifice, enabled Philadelphia to add an unearned run in the second.
Marlins second baseman Martin Prado doubled home a run in the sixth to cut the Philadelphia lead to 3-1.
NOTES: Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said the return of RHP Jerome Williams, who has been on the disabled list since May 17 with a strained left hamstring, is "imminent." Williams threw 90 pitches in his last rehab start. ... Mackanin was less optimistic about 2B Chase Utley, who has been on the disabled list since June 23 with an inflamed right ankle. Utley will be out at least another 10 days, Mackanin said. ... Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton, who fractured the hamate bone in his left hand on June 26 and underwent surgery two days later, had the stitches removed, according to MLB.com, and will see a hand specialist on Monday. Recommended recovery time for such an injury is four to six weeks. Indications are that Stanton will not return before Aug. 1.