• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Volstad vexes Phillies as Marlins move within 1 1/2 in NL East

Aug 7, 2008 - 9:35 PM By Larry Dougherty PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Rookie Chris Volstad out-dueled Cole Hamels in front of a 45,521 fans, the largest crowd at Citizens Bank Park this season, to lead the Florida Marlins to a 3-0 victory Thursday afternoon over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Marlins (61-54) won two of three contests in this series and moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Phillies (62-52) in the National League East Division.

Making just his sixth major league start, Volstad (3-2) went pitch-for-pitch with Hamels (9-8). A first-round draft pick in 2005, Volstad did not allow a hit until Hamels, one of the top hitting pitchers in baseball, singled to center with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

"This guy is 21 years old, and he pitched like a guy who has been around 10-12 years," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He got some big outs he had to get with some big hitters at the plate. He does not spook or anything. He was terrific."

The 21-year-old Volstad, who made his major league debut on July 6, allowed just three hits and four walks over his six innings Thursday. The 6-7 righthander struck out three to end a three-start winless drought.

"This is big for the team," Volstad said. "It is a big series, and to come out and throw well feels good."

Hamels, who has not recorded a victory since July 3, was up to the challenge, allowing just three runs and seven hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.

"It's one of those things where you're going up against the opponent and unfortunately, he had his best stuff," Hamels said. "He was able to go out there and baffle us and dominate us."

Florida got on the board in the second inning as Cody Ross reached on a two-out double on a ball just out of the reach of third baseman Eric Bruntlett. Matt Treanor followed with a RBI single to right, making it 1-0.

The Marlins tacked on another run in the sixth as Jeremy Hermida singled, stole second and scored on Josh Willingham's two-out double to left.

The Phillies mounted a slight threat in the bottom of the sixth as Chase Utley led off with a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Ross made a nice diving catch in center field on a ball hit by Ryan Howard, and Volstad retired Pat Burrell on an infield popup before Geoff Jenkins singled to put runners at first and second.

But Volstad got out of the inning on a grounder by Bruntlett to first base.

Joe Nelson pitched a scoreless seventh inning while Arthur Rhodes and Matt Lindstrom shut down the Phillies in the eighth. Kevin Gregg converted his 10th straight save, and 25th of the season, with a scoreless ninth.

The Phillies, who rank second in league in runs scored, were shut out for the seventh time this season and fifth at their hitter-friendly park.

"We're inconsistent, but at the same time, we're still in first place," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We'll just keep going. What can we do about it?"

Florida, which evened its road record at 28-28, now travels two hours north to take on the New York Mets in another critical divisional series.

"I thought the whole series was played well," Gonzalez said. "Both teams played with some intensity, some energy like you would play if it meant something - and it does."