Dee Gordon's double makes Marlins a walk-off winner over Phillies
MIAMI (AP) -- Dee Gordon has had a lot of great games in his first season with the Miami Marlins. Until Wednesday night he did not have a walk-off hit.
Gordon's RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the Marlins to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
"That was his first walk-off in a few years, but it couldn't have come at a better time," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said.
It was Gordon's first walk-off hit and RBI since June 17, 2012, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"First in a while," Gordon said. "It was good. We battled hard so we needed that win."
Justin Bour hit his 19th home run for the Marlins, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Miguel Rojas singled and Ichiro Suzuki walked with two outs in the 11th before Gordon doubled to deep right-center field off Jerome Williams (4-12).
"Maybe the at-bat of the night outside of Dee's winner was Rojas in a (nine) pitch at-bat and ended up with a base hit," Jennings said. "Ichiro gets the walk, moves him up to second and Dee delivers. A lot of fun watching those guys have quality at-bats like that."
Brian Ellington (2-1) earned the win by pitching a scoreless inning.
Both teams scored a run in the 10th as Freddy Galvis hit an RBI single for the Phillies and Suzuki scored for the Marlins on a throwing error by catcher Carlos Ruiz, the third of the game for the Phillies.
"I'm thinking about spring training next year and the theme for spring training camp is going to be defense and baserunning," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "You don't want to lose games due to bad defense. There's a perfect example with the game tonight."
Phillies closer Ken Giles blew his first save in 14 opportunities when he allowed the tying run in the 10th.
"Eventually it was going to happen," Giles said. "It's just one of those learning curves. The positive thing is I overcame big in that situation being able to give my team an advantage to win the ball game (in the next inning)."
The Marlins had a runner in scoring position after Ruiz's error with no outs, but were unable to drive in the winning run in three straight at-bats.
Miami led 2-1 in the eighth before the Phillies tied it. Pinch-hitter Erik Kratz doubled off Mike Dunn as center fielder Christian Yelich was unable to come up with the ball hit to left-center field. Kratz moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch by Dunn to tie the game at 2.
Adam Conley struck out a career-high eight batters in six innings allowing one run for the Marlins. Conley retired the first 12 batters he faced and left in the seventh inning with a 2-1 lead.
"When he reaches back and powers that fastball the way he's capable of it speeds up his arm and it gives his slider better depth and better quickness and that's a deadly pitch for him," Jennings said.
Phillies starter David Buchanan allowed two runs, one earned, and seven hits in five innings.
Bour led off the fourth with a home run down the right-field line for a 2-0 lead. It was his third home run in his last seven games.
The Phillies cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth inning when a run scored on a double play grounder by Ruiz.
ACTA INTERVIEWS WITH MARLINS
Former major league manager Manny Acta confirmed he interviewed Tuesday for the Marlins' managerial job.
"I had a nice meeting with them," Acta said in an email to the AP, "but I need to respect the process and just be happy that I'm part of it."
He had no further comment.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: 3B Martin Prado (wrist) missed his fifth consecutive game, but the plan is for him to return before the end of the season. ... SS Adeiny Hechavarria (hamstring) is still not 100 percent, but could return to the lineup this week for the first time since Sept. 2.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Alex Asher (0-4, 9.78 ERA) will be looking for his first major league win in Thursday's series finale.
Marlins: RHP Jarred Cosart (2-4, 4.43) has been sharp in his last three starts since returning from the DL going 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA.
