Marlins 6 - 5 Phillies
Final
  for this game

Buck's slam powers Marlins past Phils

Aug 27, 2011 - 4:07 AM

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - John Buck delivered a grand slam in the sixth inning to help the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5, at Citizens Bank Park.

Florida's Greg Dobbs went 4-for-5 with an RBI double against his former team as the Marlins won for just the fourth time in their last 21 games.

Erstwhile reliever Clay Hensley (2-5), who had compiled a 9.87 earned run average in his four previous outings this month for Florida, was tagged for three runs on as many hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"We weren't doing much with Hensley. He was moving the ball around and mixing his pitches well," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

Ryan Howard clubbed a three-run homer and Wilson Valdez added a solo shot for Philadelphia, which has lost consecutive games for the first time since July 27-28 against San Francisco.

Roy Oswalt (6-8) surrendered a season-high six runs -- five earned -- over 5 2/3 innings to absorb the loss. The right-hander matched a career high by allowing 12 hits.

This series has been shortened to two games as the Philadelphia region braces for Hurricane Irene. Saturday night's contest has been postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, September 15 at a time yet to be determined. Saturday afternoon's game -- which had already been moved up from Sunday afternoon due to Irene -- is still scheduled to be played at 1:05 p.m. (et).

With his team trailing by a run, Oswalt allowed three straight singles to begin the sixth before Buck's fourth career grand slam -- an opposite field drive to right -- put the visitors up 6-1.

The Phillies began to chip away in the bottom of the frame. Hensley was removed after giving up a two-out single to Placido Polanco and a double into the left-field corner by Chase Utley.

Michael Dunn replaced Hensley and Howard crushed the left-hander's second pitch to the seats in right-center. Hunter Pence then greeted Ryan Webb with an infield single and John Mayberry Jr. ripped a double before Carlos Ruiz flied out to end the threat.

The Phillies put men on the corners in the eighth, but Edward Mujica struck out Mayberry looking to preserve Florida's two-run lead.

Philadelphia closed the gap to 6-5 on Michael Martinez's RBI double in the ninth. Steve Cishek, though, shut the door to earn his third save of 2011.

"It's scary. We keep it entertaining. We make it an interesting game every night. Thank God we were able to hold on," said Florida manager Jack McKeon.

Valdez tied the game in the third with his first home run of the season. But back-to-back doubles by Mike Stanton and Dobbs to begin the fourth produced a go-ahead run.

Game Notes

The Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak in Philadelphia but still trail the season series, 9-4...Hensley made his first start against the Phillies since August 25, 2007, when he was a member of the San Diego Padres...Philadelphia center fielder Shane Victorino went 0-for-5 to halt his hitting streak at 12 games.






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