Ozuna, Prado power Marlins to 9-7 win over Phillies
MIAMI (AP) -- The Marlins scored eight runs in the first two innings and ended up needing every one of them.
Martin Prado homered and drove in three runs, Marcell Ozuna had a two-run homer, and the Marlins held on for a 9-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.
"I'm glad for what we had the first two innings," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said.
Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits to extend his career-best hitting streak to 13 games for the Marlins, who have won four of five while scoring at least six runs in each of the five games.
"It's been a roller coaster all year offensively so it's nice to see guys approaching and playing the game the way it should be played," Prado said.
Ozuna's home run, part of the Marlins' four-run second inning, was a blast that hit the top of the foul pole.
"I have never seen something like that," Prado said. "I've seen Giancarlo (Stanton) hit moon shots, but this one was up there with him. It was good to see him swing the bat like that. He can be the guy that turns the game around with any swing."
Brad Hand (3-3) benefited from the run support to earn the victory, allowing one run and four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out five in his 97-pitch outing.
"Just to get through six with a lead like that was nice," Hand said. "I wanted to go seven or eight, but I threw way too many pitches to do that."
A.J. Ramos pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 26 opportunities.
Philadelphia starter Jerome Williams (4-9) got just five outs, allowing eight runs and eight hits.
"Everything snowballed," Williams said. "I couldn't throw the ball where I wanted to."
The Marlins led 8-1 after two innings, but had to withstand a late-inning rally from the Phillies, who have dropped five of six.
"We got in a hole and tried to dig ourselves out," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Our bats were silent for about five innings and then we started digging. It was a hell of a comeback. We had a good chance to win that game."
Miami reliever Scott McGough struggled in his major league debut in the seventh with an 8-1 lead. McGough allowed five hits, one more than the Phillies had against Hand, and three runs.
Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez, and Odubel Herrera drove in the runs for the Phillies to pull to 8-4. Bryan Morris relieved McGough and got Jeff Francoeur to fly out to end the inning with two runners in scoring position.
Galvis' triple in the eighth drove in a run and he later scored on a base hit by Carlos Ruiz to pull the Phillies to 8-6. Mike Dunn came on to get the final two outs and the Phillies stranded two more runners in their comeback attempt.
Prado hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth scoring Ichiro Suzuki, who tripled off the wall, to push the lead to 9-6.
Cody Asche hit a pinch-hit home run with one out in the ninth, but Ramos struck out the final two batters to preserve the win.
Justin Bour, Derek Dietrich, and Hechavarria each drove in a run in the first inning for the Marlins, who also scored a run on a wild pitch by Williams to lead 4-1.
The Marlins sent nine batters to the plate in each of the first two innings as Williams was unable to get into a groove.
Prado's two-run homer to left field put the Marlins ahead 6-1. It was his first home run since June 12 against Colorado. Ozuna's two-run home run was his second homer in two games giving the Marlins an 8-1 lead in the second.
Ozuna is hitting .250 (5 for 20) in six games since being recalled after a 33-game stint with Triple-A New Orleans.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RF Stanton (left hand) is still in the rehab process with hopes of returning sometime in September. Stanton is looking to hit off a pitching machine for five to seven consecutive days seeing about 50-85 pitches before taking the next step. He has been able to do two straight days, but he still has pain and was unable to hit on Wednesday, which started over the process. ... OF Christian Yelich (bruised right knee) is able to hit and throw, but is not able to run without any issues, which is holding him back. ... RHP Jose Fernandez (right bicep strain) is doing a long toss program before beginning to throw on flat ground and bullpen sessions. ... RHP David Phelps (stress fracture in right forearm) expects to be out four to six weeks, ending his season. ... RHP Jarred Cosart (ear) is expected to make a rehab start with Single-A Jupiter on Monday. ... RHP Carter Capps (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Thursday.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff will make his major league debut Friday in the second game of this series. Eickhoff was one of six players acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade on July 31. He is 12-5 with a 3.85 ERA and 22 starts with three minor league teams this season.
Marlins: RHP Kendry Flores (1-1, 2.35 ERA) will make his first career start after six appearances out of the bullpen.
