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Phillies search for success in Miami

Jun 30, 2012 - 1:43 PM (Sports Network) - And the losing ways continue for the Phillies.

Philadelphia will try again to get back into the win column when they take on the Miami Marlins this afternoon in the second portion of a three-game series down in south Florida.

Phils expensive starter Cliff Lee remained winless (0-5) on the season and allowed six runs on 10 hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings in Friday's 6-2 setback at Marlins Park. Lee is going through a bad stretch right now and said physically he feels fine.

"The wins and losses and stuff like that is out of my control, but I could do something about not getting through the fifth inning and giving up five runs," said Lee. "That falls solely on me. I can do better than that."

Hunter Pence had a home run and an RBI single for the Phillies, who have dropped three straight and nine of 14 games to fall 10 games off the lead in the National League East. The Phillies are also seven games below .500 and will visit the New York Mets for three games on their current road trip.

Seven shutout innings weren't enough to lift Cole Hamels to a win his last time out, so he'll give it another go this afternoon in Miami. Hamels did not record a decision in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. He also struck out seven and walked three.

Hamels is 10-3 in 15 starts to go along with a 3.03 earned run average and is 2-0 in his previous three outings. The left-hander and 2008 World Series MVP is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA against the Marlins this season and lost to them on June 2, when he allowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-4 setback. Hamels, who has lasted at least six innings in 14 consecutive starts, has faced the Marlins 21 times in his career, going 6-9 with a 3.67 ERA.

Miami hasn't won three in a row since closing out May on a three-game winning streak. It put together a solid offensive performance to aid starting pitcher Josh Johnson, who threw six innings of one-run ball to even his mark at 5-5.

Justin Ruggiano went 3-for-4 with a two-run double for the Marlins, who have won three of five games but are still just 7-18 in June. Miami is second to last in the NL East at 8 1/2 games off the pace.

"It seems like we're coming around little by little," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Today, it seemed like everybody put a little bit together. Everybody contributed."

Giancarlo Stanton and Logan Morrison both had two hits and an RBI in the win.

The Marlins, who are 3-4 on a nine-game homestand, hope Mark Buehrle can keep the momentum going when he takes the mound Saturday. Buehrle has lost both of his starts to the Phillies this season and is 3-2 with a 5.23 ERA in five career starts against them. He put an end to his losing ways the previous time out, tossing seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 pounding of Toronto on Sunday to put the brakes on a personal four-game slide.

Buehrle, a left-hander, is now 6-8 in 15 starts and lowered his ERA to 3.55.

The Phillies are making their first ever trip to brand-new Marlins Park with this series. Miami leads the season series, 4-3.