Aaron Harang allowed four runs in possibly the final start of his career, and the Phillies clinched last place in the NL East again in a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
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After being hit hard, Harang settled, was just ordinary and ended up with a no-decision in a 7-6 loss to the Marlins.
Phillies starters have the third-fewest quality starts (65) and innings per start (5.3) in the majors, and as Kaplan pointed out, there are plenty of pitchers the team may be eyeing, such as high school prospects Riley Pint and Jason Groome, Florida’s A.J. Puk and Oklahoma’s Alec Hansen.
“I really enjoyed myself here”, Harang said. “I was a little nervous coming in today”.
Marcell Ozuna’s sharp single scored Martin Prado, who had tripled, with the winning run.
It was just the second blown save for Giles since he took over for Jonathan Papelbon after the former Phillies closer was traded to Washington.
By then, Pete Mackanin had already offered an endorsement of Harang, who will become a free agent. “The pitching staff did a great job this week, and if they can continue to do that, we’ll keep under 100”.
Yelich had six singles, a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
Miami’s Dee Gordon, hitting.329, trails Washington’s Bryce Harper by two points in the NL batting race.
The Marlins collected the Game 2 win in large part thanks to Yelich, who had three hits in his first three at-bats.
Gordon also had a pair of steals to up his season total to 58, overtaking injured Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton for the league lead. Ramos struck out Franco with a man on second to end the game. Franco batted for the first time since fracturing his left wrist on August. 11 after being hit by a pitch. The Phillies have scored 12 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in five of their last eight games. With another defeat in Sunday’s season finale, Philadelphia would post its first 100-loss season since 1969.
Friday night’s matchup between the Phillies and the Miami Marlins has been postponed due to rain.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Chase d’Arnaud hits a triple in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins during the first game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, October 3, 2015, in Philadelphia.
Rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino (5-4) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings to earn the Game 2 victory. The team stretched that lead to 4-0 when catcher Jeff Mathis hit his second homer in the third inning.The Phillies bullpen had its 10 1/3 scoreless-inning streak snapped when reliever Ken Roberts gave up a run in the sixth inning.
The doubleheader was played on a windy, rainy and cold day with an announced temperature of 57 degrees at game time of the opener. Fans braved the conditions with blankets, hats, coats and other winter clothing.
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Harang said he has yet to decide whether there will be a 15th.
