The Walker Buehler-Taijuan Walker piggyback delivered another strong performance with seven combined shutout innings to lead the Phillies to a 1-0 win over the Miami Marlins. An RBI groundout from Alec Bohm was the only run in the game, as the two teams combined to go 0-14 with runners in scoring position. It was the Phillies ninth straight series win at home.
The only run in this game for either team came in the first inning. Harrison Bader led off the bottom of the first with a single before Kyle Schwarber struck out. But Bryce Harper followed that with a single that was deflected off of the glove of shortstop Otto Lopez, allowing Bader to get to third with one out. Bohm was next up and hit a slow bouncer towards third on the first pitch he saw for an RBI groundout.
It wouldn’t be the only scoring chance the Phillies had, as they had two runners on in the fourth and fifth and tallied nine baserunners, but they finished 0-10 with runners in scoring position.
Buehler meanwhile ran into trouble in the top half of the first. He walked the leadoff hitter on four pitches before engaging in an eight-pitch battle with Agustín Ramírez. But Buehler was able to win the battle with a strikeout, and J.T. Realmuto threw out Jakob Marsee trying to steal second to complete a double play. Buehler then issued his second walk of the inning before getting Liam Hicks to lineout to center on his 20th pitch of the inning.
The Marlins threatened again in the third as Buehler again allowed the leadoff man to reach base, this time on a single. He then proceeded to strikeout Graham Pauley on three pitches and got Marsee to pop up to Realmuto before Ramírez singled and Xavier Edwards walked to load the bases. But again, Buehler was able to tightrope his way out of trouble by getting Liam Hicks to pop up to second to end the inning.
Miami again got the leadoff man on with a single in the fourth, but a hard-hit line drive right at Edmundo Sosa allowed the Phillies shortstop to turn a quick double play. Buehler then hit Connor Norby with a pitch before inducing a flyout to collect the third out.
The fifth was much easier for Buehler, as he retired the side on just five pitches to end his night and give way to Taijuan Walker. The first half of the Walker-Buehler piggyback went five shutout innings while allowing three hits and three walks with two strikeouts on 74 pitches. Buehler has now made three appearances for the Phillies including two starts and has allowed one run in 13.2 IP.
The second half of the piggyback also ran into trouble in his first inning of work, as Taijuan Walker issued a leadoff walk and a single to put two on with no outs. But just like his counterpart, the second Walker was also able to dance out of trouble, picking up a fly out and back-to-back strikeouts to keep the Marlins off of the board. That was the only heavy lifting Walker needed to do, as he went two innings and allowed one hit and two walks with three strikeouts.
Have you ever seen the rain?
Matt Strahm pitched a quick clean inning on 12 pitches in the eighth as the rain started to fall. It appeared the game was going to go into a delay before the bottom of the eighth, but crew chief Vic Carapazza waved it off and brought both teams back onto the field. Bryce Harper struck out to begin the bottom of the eighth before Bohm singled to center. Brandon Marsh then worked a 2-1 count before a real rain delay came with one out in the eighth inning of a 1-0 game in that meant essentially nothing for either team.
After about an hour rain delay, the eighth inning concluded, and David Robertson entered for the save in the ninth. Jhoan Duran had already warmed up before the delay, thus why Robertson was entrusted to hold the 1-0 lead. He allowed a two out single but otherwise closed the game out with ease.
The Phillies will start the final series of the regular season with Aaron Nola (4-10, 6.46) on the mound against the Minnesota Twins. Joe Ryan (13-9, 3.47) will take the hill for Minnesota. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 pm.
