Just depressing: Marlins 6, Phillies 2

Let me start by saying this: I think the Marlins have overtaken the Nationals in my personal “I hate them” list. It’s nothing personal, they’ve just come to annoy me. Is it the after effects of playing them so much all at once? Maybe, but who cares. I don’t like them.

It’s not possible to start the game any better than the Phillies started it, having Andrew McCutchen do what leadoff men are supposed to do.

His seventh home run of the year gave the Phillies an early 1-0. Starter Vince Velasquez looked better in the first inning, getting the Marlins in order and something felt good about the game.

Stop me if you’ve heard that before.

In the second, Matt Joyce led off with a single, then went to second on a fielder’s choice. Jazz Chisholm continued his assault on the Phillies this series by lashing an RBI single that scored Joyce and tied the game at 1. The Marlins threatened again in the inning when Chisholm went to second when Rafael Marchan, making his first start above single-A, tried showing off his exceptional arm by picking off Chisholm instead threw the ball into right field. Miguel Rojas then walked, but Velasquez bore down and retired the next two hitters, minimizing the damage.

Turns out it was only forestalling it. In the third, the Phillies threatened as well when Marchan singled for his first MLB hit, but couldn’t score on Harper’s two out double. That proved an issue when Alec Bohm struck out to end the inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Marlins broke through when Corey Dickerson doubled, went to third on a Starling Marte single, then scored along with Marte on a Jesus Aguilar double. In the fourth, Rojas would single and score on a Brian Anderson double, making the score 4-1 Miami. Velasquez would be finished a few batter later, unable to make it out of the fourth inning.

The sixth inning saw David Phelps enter and continue his “effective reliever” disappearing act, surrendering a home run to Rojas to put the score at 5-1.

Marte would tack on another run in the seventh with a solo shot of his own that ended the scoring on the day for Miami and made the score 6-1.

Scott Kingery, returning from the IL, gave himself a confidence boost by hitting his second home run of the year to straightaway centerfield.

However, it was far too little, far too late. The game was out of reach and the series was over. The Phillies are now 1 ¹⁄₂ games behind Miami for that final spot in the NL East. A depressing end to a depressing series in Miami.

Luckily the Mets are coming to town!