Phillies sustain hot form under Don Mattingly with Marlins win

The Philadelphia Phillies continue to have the wind at their backs under interim manager Don Mattingly, nipping the Miami Marlins 1-0 on Monday night to improve to 6-1 with their second straight series win since the managerial change. The win also squared away a three-of-four set in Miami and brought the team to 15-20, a rebound from a 9-19 start that led to Rob Thomson’s dismissal.

Starting pitching has driven the turnaround. Aaron Nola tossed six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, issuing no walks, and striking out five. His outing was the fifth quality start in Philadelphia’s six wins during this stretch. Across seven games under Mattingly, Phillies starters have compiled a 1.85 ERA, conceding just eight earned runs over 39 innings. Before the change, the rotation owned a 5.80 ERA, the worst in MLB, and had produced only six quality starts in 28 games.

Nola entered the game with a 1-3 record and 6.03 ERA, and had surrendered 11 runs across his previous two starts. With seven days of rest due to a rotation adjustment, he showed improved command and velocity, averaging 92.4 mph on his fastball and leaning heavily on his curveball, which generated seven swings and misses among 32 uses.

Offensively, Bryce Harper provided all the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning, his seventh of the season, on a 393-foot drive. He also added a double and a single. Adolis García chipped in two hits as Philadelphia managed five hits against Marlins starter Janson Junk, who allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings.

Defensively, Garrett Stubbs threw out two baserunners, the first time in his career he recorded multiple caught stealings in a game. Outfielders Justin Crawford and Brandon Marsh contributed pivotal running catches.

The bullpen preserved the narrow lead, with Tanner Banks escaping a seventh-inning jam after a Trea Turner error, Jose Alvarado pitching a perfect eighth, and Brad Keller earning his second save despite allowing two hits in the ninth.

Up next, the Phillies return home Tuesday night to begin a six-game homestand with three against the Athletics followed by three against the Colorado Rockies.

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