Fish Cap: Miami Marlins 1, Philadelphia Phillies 2

Source: FanGraphs

The Miami Marlins will have to wait a few more days to try and win their first series of the season.

An inconsistent bullpen continued to give the Marlins trouble in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies on Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park.

With the bases empty and one out in the top of the eighth inning, pinch hitter Laynce Nix hit a home run to right field to give the Phillies a one run advantage heading to the ninth.

Starting pitching on both sides had led to low scoring games in the first two matchups of the series, and that trend continued with Roy Halladay and Kevin Slowey on the mound.

Both pitchers looked dominant early on, however the Phillies began to challenge Slowey in the top of the fifth. Catcher Humberto Quintero doubled with one out, and after striking out Halladay, Slowey walked Freddy Galvis before getting second baseman Chase Utley to ground out.

Philadelphia scored the first run of the game off of Slowey in the sixth. Ryan Howard led off the inning with an opposite field double, and Michael Young singled up the middle to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. On Chris Coghlan's throw to the plate, Young took second base. After retiring Domonic Brown but walking John Mayberry, Slowey was replaced by Chad Qualls, who induced an inning ending double play.

Over his 5 1/3 innings, Slowey gave up nine hits and two walks while striking out four. Slowey got a no decision while lowering his ERA to 2.04.

Qualls retired the side in order in the top of the seventh before the Marlins scored their only run of the afternoon.

With one out, Justin Ruggiano singled and Rob Brantly walked before second baseman Chris Valaika hit a single to left off of Halladay which tied the game at one.

Following two consecutive singled by Utley and Howard off of Qualls to begin the eighth, Qualls got Michael Young to hit into a double play. Jon Rauch then entered in relief and retired pinch hitter Jimmy Rollins to keep it a tie game.

After Erik Kratz flied out to center field to begin the ninth, Rauch left a fastball out over the plate to Nix, who sent it on to the home run porch in right field to give the Phillies a one run edge,

Despite a leadoff walk to Placido Polanco, Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon retired the next three Marlins he faced and saved his third game of the season and his ninth in his career against the Marlins.

Miami will look to bounce back as they begin a three game series against the Nationals on Monday at Marlins Park.