Phillies 7, Marlins 1
MIAMI -- Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff prevailed in his major league debut, tossing six scoreless innings and hitting a two-run single to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night at Marlins Park.
Eickhoff, acquired from the Texas Rangers as part of the Cole Hamels trade last month, allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out five.
His only major scare came in the fourth inning. Eickhoff allowed a one-out single to first baseman Justin Bour and a double off the left field wall by center fielder Marcell Ozuna, who missed what would have been his third homer in three days by just a few feet.
Fortunately for Eickhoff, the slow-footed Bour was thrown out at the plate on a strong relay by shortstop Freddy Galvis and a leaping grab and tag by catcher Cameron Rupp.
Marlins rookie right-hander Kendry Flores (1-2), making his first major league start, allowed seven hits, two walks and five runs in five innings.
Offensively, the Phillies were led by first baseman Ryan Howard, who had three doubles and two RBIs.
Eickhoff's hit came on his second major league at-bat.
With the win, the Phillies (48-74) pulled within two games of the Marlins (50-72) in the battle to stay out of last place in the NL East.
The Phillies are now 38-0 when leading after eight innings.
Philadelphia opened the scoring with four runs in the fourth, taking advantage of Marlins left fielder Cole Gillespie.
Phillies third baseman Andres Blanco doubled to left off the wrist of Gillespie, who dived for the ball but overran it. Later in the inning, Gillespie had two throwing errors on plays at the plate -- on a sacrifice fly by Galvis and a two-run single by Eickhoff.
Gillespie left the game after the fifth inning with a wrist injury probably stemming from Blanco's hit.
Philadelphia made it 5-0 in the fifth. Center fielder Odubel Herrera, who had an RBI single in the fourth, singled and scored on Howard's double.
The Phillies made it 6-0 in the sixth. Galvis singled and scored after Rupp singled and Miami's Derek Dietrich, who replaced Gillespie in left, botched the fielding play.
Dietrich got the run back in the seventh, pulling a pitch to right field off reliever Jeanmar Gomez for his ninth homer of the season.
NOTES: In the past year, the Marlins have traded 10 of their top 30 prospects, including five of their top six -- LHP Andrew Heaney, RHP Anthony DeSclafani, LHP Brian Flynn, 3B Colin Moran and OF Jake Marisnick. ... The Marlins have used 13 pitchers age 25 or younger this season, the most in the majors. ... Marlins RHP David Phelps (stress fracture, right forearm) is out for the season but said he will be ready for spring training. ... Marlins RHP Carter Capps, whose average fastball of 98 mph is third-fastest in the majors, threw a bullpen session on Thursday and hopes to return soon from a strained right elbow. ... Milwaukee claimed LHP Cesar Jimenez after the Phillies designated him for assignment late Thursday night. ... Phillies OF/INF Darnell Sweeney, who made his big-league debut Thursday after being acquired from the Dodgers in the Chase Utley trade, led the Pacific Coast League in steals (32) at the time of the trade.