Giving up runs late in the game and losing will tear your heart out, but coughing up runs early and then settling in can mean you just get bled to death. And that's what happened to the Phillies tonight. On the night the Phillies honored legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas with a posthumous induction into the Phillies Wall of Fame, Phillies starter Joe Blanton got off to a rough start, giving up two runs in the first on a solo home run to Nick Johnson, followed by a Dan Uggla RBI double on a ball misplayed by Raul Ibanez in left field. Blanton then allowed a third run on a leadoff homer by Cody Ross in the second inning. Fortunately, that's all the offense the Marlins could muster.
Unfortunately, it was enough.
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco was on point all night, striking out seven Phillies and only allowing four hits. One of those hits -- new Phillie Ben Francisco's two run homer in the seventh -- made the score 3-2. And that's where the score stayed.
The Phillies threatened in the bottom of the eighth, with Jayson Werth and Chase Utley reaching base on walks, only to see Ryan Howard strike out and Raul Ibanez ground out to end the almost-rally.
All in all, and underwhelming showing on the first night of Phillies Alumni Weekend.
Jimmy Rollins saw his hitting streak end at 12 games with tonight's 0 for 4.