The Sports Xchange
Aug 22, 2017
PHILADELPHIA -- The Miami Marlins swept the Philadelphia Phillies in the 43rd doubleheader in franchise history on Tuesday behind a combined 23 hits in two games.
After taking Game 1, 12-8, Miami staved off a benign Phillies comeback to hang on for a 7-4 victory in Game 2.
Four RBIs from Christian Yelich was just enough for starter Jose Urena (12-5, 3.68 ERA) to walk off the mound after five innings with his 12th victory of the season.
Yelich knocked in Dee Gordon in the top of the first inning for the second time in one day to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Marcel Ozuna mashed a two-run homer just a few pitches later to give the Marlins a 3-0 lead after the top half of the first.
Phillies starter Nick Pivetta (4-9, 6.73 ERA) labored through a 46-pitch first inning that featured a mound visit and some action in the outfield bullpen.
Pivetta didn't fare any better in the top of the second. He served up a meatball to Yelich, who crushed a three-run homer to right-center field for a 6-0 Marlins lead.
After just 1 1/3 innings, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin turned to his bullpen for answers.
Edubray Ramos relieved Pivetta and got out of the second inning, and settled things down into the fourth inning.
Pivetta exited his start after surrendering six runs (all earned), and seven hits while throwing 64 pitches.
Nick Williams popped a solo home run off of Urena to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, and Andres Blanco followed later in the inning with a two-run homer to bring the Phillies back within striking distance.
Blanco battled Urena before homering on the 14th pitch of the at-bat after seven consecutive foul balls to stay alive.
Tommy Joseph hit his second home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull Philadelphia within two, but the Marlins bullpen wouldn't allow them any closer.
Urena threw 101 pitches in five innings while striking out five Phillies, surrendering three earned runs and leaving with a 6-3 lead.
Earlier in the evening, just two months shy of his 44th birthday, Ichiro Suzuki led the power surge for Miami.
Ichiro stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh, pinch-hitting for starter Dan Straily (7-8, 3.83 ERA), and took a 3-1 pitch from Phillies starter Aaron Nola (9-9, 3.58 ERA) deep into right-center field for a three-run homer to give Miami and 6-3 lead before they eventually knocked off the Phillies 12-8.
NOTES: The Marlins swept a doubleheader for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015, when they also swept the Phillies behind eight hits from Christian Yelich. ... Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez was transferred to the 60-day DL and will miss the remainder of the 2017 season (finger). ... Phillies RHP Zach Eflin was placed on the 10-day DL (retroactive to Aug. 19) with a right shoulder strain. ... Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki now has two career pinch-hit home runs, both against the Phillies.