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Source: FanGraphs
Attendance: 21,412
Hero of the Game: Placido Polanco (0.148 WPA)
Goat of the Game: Jon Rauch (-0.208 WPA)
Play of the Game: Laynce Nix homered in the ninth inning (-0.388 WPA)
To their credit, the Miami Marlins stayed close in yet another game, this time sticking to the Philadelphia Phillies fairly closely. The Fish got a decent performance from Kevin Slowey, who struck out four batters in 5 1/3 innings with just two walks. Unfortunately, he was allowed to hit for himself in the bottom of the fifth then promptly gave up his only run in the top of the sixth inning. Slowey was in trouble for a lot of the game, having given up nine hits in his 5 1/3 innings, but at least this time around, he was able to deftly strand the majority of his runners.
The Marlins offensively were not having such an easy time even picking up baserunners, as the Fish mustered just five hits and two walks against Roy Halladay and the rest of the Phillies. The team got their lone run from a nice sequence in the seventh inning, as Justin Ruggiano singled and Rob Brantly walked to put runners on first and second with just one out. Chris Valaika delivered with a single that drove in Ruggiano and tied the game. Unfortunately, Adeiny Hechavarria's resulting deep fly ball was followed by a costly baserunning error by Brantly, who forgot the out count and ran past third base before being promptly doubled up at second base to end the inning.
Chad Qualls covered well for Slowey and the Marlins, but Jon Rauch could not complete a clean outing. In the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Laynce Nix, coming in for Halladay, launched a no-doubter to deep right field into the second deck to give the Phillies the eventual win.
The Marlins get no rest, as they open up a three-game series against their Opening Day opponents, the Washington Nationals, starting Monday night.