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Worley shines in Phillies' 1-0 win over Marlins

Jul 5, 2011 - 4:06 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Vance Worley sparkled again, throwing seven scoreless innings Monday to lead the Phillies to a 1-0 win over the Marlins in the opener of a three-game series.

Worley (4-1) combined with Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo on a two-hit shutout, while Michael Martinez drove in Domonic Brown with a single in the seventh inning for the game's only run.

"He's picked up some slack for us. We knew he could throw the ball, but the way he's been throwing the ball has exceeded our expectations," said Phillies catcher Brian Schneider about Worley.

The Phillies won for the sixth time in eight games despite grinding out just six hits, all against Florida starter Ricky Nolasco.

Nolasco (5-5) was a hard-luck loser after striking out four and walking two in seven strong innings.

"We're not catching any breaks at all right now. Everything is going against us and it's tough. That's just the way it is right now for us," said Nolasco.

Pitching ruled the game, but so did defense. Worley was the victim of one spectacular play in the third inning after he knocked a bouncer up the middle.

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez dove for it, deflecting the ball into the air with his glove. Second baseman Omar Infante grabbed it bare-handed and gunned Worley out at first base by a step.

The Phillies starter was involved in another highlight play in the fifth when he raced to tag Emilio Bonifacio down the first base line to end the inning.

Bonifacio was trying to leg out a grounder to Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who led Worley with a toss as he scrambled toward the bag.

Replays failed to show clearly whether the pitcher swiped Bonifacio or not, and the Marlins third baseman was ejected by first base umpire Vic Carapazza for protesting the call.

Interim manager Jack McKeon also argued, but wasn't tossed. The Marlins had a runner at second base on the play.

Brown's single in the seventh inning was the first time all game the Phillies put their leadoff hitter aboard. He went to second when Schneider walked and scored on a good slide to the back of the plate on Martinez's single to left-center.

Center fielder Bryan Petersen one-hopped a strong throw home, but catcher John Buck reached back a split-second too late, tagging Brown as he slid feet-first over the plate.

Buck was ejected by home plate umpire Kerwin Danley in the top of the ninth inning after Brown walked on a 3-2 fastball that Danley called inside. After he was tossed, Buck jawed with the ump all the way back to the dugout.

Bastardo, pitching after Stutes threw a 1-2-3 eighth, had an interesting ninth.

Infante flied out to lead off, but only after Brown and second baseman Chase Utley collided in foul territory on a pop-up that should have been caught. Gaby Sanchez then walked, but remained at first base after third baseman Placido Polanco let a slow Ramirez grounder down the line roll foul, snaring it just as it crossed the line.

Bastardo fanned Ramirez, then got Logan Morrison on a fly ball to right to end the game and secure his fifth save.

Game Notes

The Marlins had a two-game winning streak snapped and are 2-2 in July after going 5-23 in June...In his last start, Worley pitched seven innings in a 2-1 win over Boston...Nolasco was coming off a shutout in his last start, a 3-0 win over Oakland last Wednesday. He is 1-5 over his last eight starts.