Phillies' Ryan Howard while striking out in the sixth
inning on Friday, August 7, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA -- Blown leads became the standard for the Marlins in Washington. Not so Philadelphia, where the Marlins opened a crucial weekend series by hanging on for a 3-2 victory.
It wasn't easy, but the Marlins managed to make a lead stick on Friday.
Ricky Nolasco was mostly untouchable for seven innings and the bullpen did its part as the Marlins washed off some of the stain left clinging to them from the debacle in Washington.
``I knew we needed a big win,'' Nolasco said.
A sellout crowd packed Citizens Bank Park on Friday to honor the Phillies' late broadcaster, Harry Kalas. Kalas, who died in April, was inducted into the team's honorary Wall of Fame. On hand for the ceremony were Phillies legends, such as Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Jim Bunning and Dick Allen.
``We had everything going against us,'' said Marlins catcher John Baker. ``The atmosphere was set for them to have a big day. They're at home and they've got the great crowd, and all the folklore was going on ahead of time.''
Knowing that the crowd could become a factor, Nolasco said he consciously tried to keep the noise level to a minimum.
``Everybody knows how good Phillies fans are,'' Nolasco said. ``Unfortunately, I've heard them on the opposite end. I was trying to keep them out of the game as much as possible.''
For six innings, Nolasco kept things quiet.
``I was trying to put the pressure on them,'' Nolasco said of his strategy to defuse the Phillies, as well as the crowd. ``I just tried to challenge them early.''
EARLY SUPPORT
Nolasco received a little early help from the offense.
Nick Johnson and Cody Ross each hit home runs off Phillies starter Joe Blanton, and the Marlins had a 3-0 lead to work with in the second.
Then again, two big leads turned to dust in D.C.
And one nearly went by the wayside Friday.
But Nolasco, who was abysmal to start the season, continued to perform the way he did in 2008 when he was a 15-game winner for the Marlins.
He gave up just two hits and struck out seven through the first six innings. When the Phillies managed to place runners at the corners with no outs in the second, he emerged unscathed by working out of the jam.
QUIET THE CROWD
``I kind of said to myself with the big crowd, I'm going to try to not give up any runs, because I don't want to hear this crowd,'' Nolasco said.
But the Phillies finally got to him in the seventh.
After right fielder Ben Francisco threw out Chris Coghlan at the plate to end the inning, he stepped to the plate in the Phillies' half and stroked a two-run home run to left to make it a 3-2 game.
``The momentum shifted later in the game, and we were able to hold them off in the end,'' Nolasco said.
Reliever Renyel Pinto walked two batters in the eighth but escaped by using his changeup to strike out Ryan Howard and get Raul Ibanez on a ground out.
Then came closer Leo Nuñez, who had not pitched in five days.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said beforehand that he intended to pitch Nuñez, regardless of the situation, just to get him work. Nuñez made it into the game, but he barely broke a sweat, retiring the side on five pitches.
He struck out Francisco on three pitches and got Greg Dobbs and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs to swing at first pitches for outs.
And by winning the first game of the series, the Marlins gave themselves a chance to make up for the disaster in Washington with a sweep in Philadelphia, something veteran utility player Wes Helms said was necessary. The Marlins are a third of the way to fulfilling that accomplishment, though Phillies ace Cole Hamels looms Saturday.
Hamels will be facing Sean West, who was recalled from Double A Jacksonville after Friday's game. To make room for West, the Marlins optioned right-handed reliever Luis Ayala to Triple A New Orleans.
