Miami Marlins knock Philadelphia Phillies down 5-2 as Hanley Ramirez shines - MLB Update
Giancarlo Stanton and Hanley Ramirez lift the Miami Marlins' offence as the club hammers the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 at Marlins Park, Miami on July 1, 2012 in third game of the three match series.
Phillies slump is reaching a point from where return to normalcy will be impossible. Play-offs spot looks a distant dream now.
Before start of the series, experts maintained that this will be the last opportunity for the Phillies to assert their contention and steady the quest for defending the title of being Division Championship winners for the last five years.
To their dismay, series turned out to be another reminder of a mediocrity they have worn as a team. They looked as poor as they have been right from beginning of the season. Their pitchers betrayed as the offence failed and just about every department of
the play saw them sinking to the lowest ebb.
Marlins faced almost similar kind of situation as the series started. They however used the opportunity to the maximum. By delivering a splendid performance in three games, they have comforted manager Ozzie Guillen and the owner Jeffrey Loria now as they
were increasingly concerned about the club's continuous losing streaks.
Starter Ricky Nolasco became the rightful winner of the game. He threw seven innings and cost two runs, while striking-out six. Throwing greater number of innings and not allowing many runs in the process was the major reason why the Marlins recorded an
easy victory.
This also resulted in a fewer number of innings thrown by relievers, helping Marlins cruise through penultimate innings safely.
Heath Bell did the closing job for the club. As he was scoreless, he registered his 17th save of the season.
Offensively, third-baseman Hanley Ramirez and right-fielder Giancarlo Stanton stood out from the Marlins. Both of them hit massive homers, which took the game away from the Phillies.
Guillen was all-praise of Ramirez, in particular the homer he struck.
"The biggest hit today was the home run by Hanley," Guillen said. "Hanley opened up the game a little bit to give you some room for a mistake."
They will be no looking back from now onward will be the mantra being dreamed by the Marlins at the moment. The manager will be looking to see it happening and witnessing the Marlins reaching new heights in the season.
Tags: