Marlins 1 - 3 Phillies
Final
  for this game

Phils hope to keep slim playoff hopes alive in opener with Marlins

Sep 10, 2012 - 3:19 PM

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(Sports Network) - It's unknown if the Philadelphia Phillies are fans of Journey, but the band's hit "Don't Stop Believin'" could be the team's mantra for the remainder of the season.

The Phillies pulled within six games of one of the final two wild card berths in the National League thanks to a weekend sweep of the Colorado Rockies, and will turn their attention to the Miami Marlins Monday in the opener of a three-game series from Citizens Bank Park.

Sunday's doubleheader was made necessary due to a rainout the night before and the five-time defending NL East champions pulled off the sweep with a 3-2 win and a 7-4 victory, respectively. John Mayberry drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in the first game and Cole Hamels tossed seven innings of two-run ball.

Chase Utley had three hits and a run scored in the nightcap, while Ty Wigginton homered for the Phillies, who have won four straight and 12 of their last 16 games. Jonathan Papelbon worked around a two-out double in the ninth to secure his 32nd save of the year.

"Those guys are the bridge to me and we are being successful with a lot of young guys in the bullpen right now that have stepped it up," Papelbon said.

Carlos Ruiz went 2-for-2 with an RBI in his return to the lineup and had been out since Aug. 2 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He was activated off the disabled list Friday.

"He said he felt fine," Phils manager Charlie Manuel said. "If you noticed, he was running OK, but he wasn't running good enough to score from second base and stuff. That could be tough for him. But we'll watch him."

Kyle Kendrick will try to get back into the win column when he toes the rubber for Philadelphia tonight. Kendrick had won four straight outings from Aug. 14- Aug. 30, but lost at Cincinnati in last Tuesday's 2-1 setback. He allowed both runs in six innings and is 8-10 with a 3.96 earned run average in 32 games, 20 of which have been starts, this season.

Kendrick, a right-hander, threw seven shutout innings at Miami on Aug. 14 and is 4-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 career games (11 starts) against the Marlins.

Miami has won three of four games and took a three-game series at Washington over the weekend.

In Sunday's 8-0 win at Nationals Park, Giancarlo Stanton clubbed his 33rd home run of the season and Greg Dobbs recorded three hits.

The main reason why the Marlins won the series was because of Ricky Nolasco, who fired a four-hit shutout, struck out six and issued one walk.

"We've had our ups and downs but I think we've done a good job of staying level-headed and doing what we have to do," said Nolasco. "Sometimes the outcomes don't go the way we want, but nobody has ever quit."

It was Nolasco's second shutout of the season and fourth of his career. It was also his ninth career complete game.

Wade LeBlanc will try to follow up that performance when he takes the mound Monday night. LeBlanc is 2-3 in 20 games (6 starts) with a 2.72 earned run average and is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies.

The Marlins are 7-5 against Philadelphia this season and have won six of the previous eight matchups between the division foes.






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