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Moyer maintains mastery over Marlins

Jul 19, 2008 - 4:01 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Jamie Moyer continues to reel in victories against the Florida Marlins.

The 45-year-old lefthander recorded his 10th victory in as many career starts against the Marlins and Ryan Howard belted his major league-leading 29th home run of the season as the Philadelphia Phillies cruised to a 4-2 triumph on Friday.

Moyer (9-6) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings while walking one and striking out three.

As for why Moyer has so much success against the Marlins, the veteran hurler admitted that he doesn't have the answer.

"I've been asked this question many times. There are teams and hitters you do well against and there are teams and hitters you don't do well against," Moyer said. "If I was 0-10, then you would be saying it the other way. Why? I don't have an answer."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, however, was more than willing to give it a shot.

"When he makes his pitches, people have a hard time hitting him," Manuel said. "He did a good job, especially on the some of the lefties, he got the ball up and in on them. They see his ball and want to swing at it but when he puts the ball where he wants it to go, he has a good chance of getting them out."

Two relievers bridged the gap to All-Star closer Brad Lidge, who retired the side in order in the ninth to record his 21st save in as many chances.

Geoff Jenkins belted a solo home run and added a run-scoring single for Philadelphia, which has won five of its last six contests.

Ricky Nolasco (10-5) allowed four runs and seven hits while striking out five in seven innings for Florida, which lost for just the third time in its last nine games. The Marlins had won the righthander's previous seven starts and 10 of his last 11.

In Nolasco's final four starts before the break, he went 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA, 30 strikeouts and two walks in 29 innings.

For his part, Moyer has been simply masterful at Dolphin Stadium this season. The veteran surrendered two hits and one walk in eight innings as the Phillies cruised to a 3-0 victory on June 12.

On Friday, it was more of the same as Moyer cruised through the Marlins' order - save for a 34-pitch fourth inning - before departing after completing the sixth.

Howard opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to right field. The blast was the slugger's ninth in his last 13 games.

"I just tried to make my adjustments and keep us right there as long as I could," Nolasco said. "They made me pay for the mistakes that I made. They're a good hitting team and when you make mistakes, they don't miss them too often."

Pat Burrell followed with a double to left field and came around to score on Jenkins' single to center field.

Chase Utley added an RBI single in the third and Jenkins belted a solo shot to center for a 4-0 lead.

"Shoot! I don't know," Jenkins said of the distance of his home run. "That's 430 (feet) out to that gap, so if you're going to go, you better go strong. Obviously, I know I hit it well, but I didn't know if it was going that far, if it was going to go (out of the park)."

The Marlins halved the deficit in the fourth. Jorge Cantu's bloop single to left plated All-Star Hanley Ramirez, and Jeremy Hermida came around to score as Dan Uggla bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.

Manuel was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes.

With Shane Victorino at the plate, an inside pitch from Nolasco appeared to hit the Phillies' center fielder on his right shin. Plate umpire Jim Joyce ruled that the pitch instead struck Victorino's bat and called it a foul ball.

After Victorino argued with Joyce, Manuel came out to defend his player and subsequently was ejected from the contest.

"(Joyce) said, 'If you question whether the ball hit (Victorino) or if he didn't swing at the ball, or something, then you're questioning balls and strikes and I'm supposed to throw you out of the game for that.'" Manuel said. "And I said, 'OK' and I turned and walked away. Then I said, 'The (heck) with it and then I went back."