Sanchez helps Marlins salvage split against Phils
Philadelphia Phillies right fielder
Jayson Werth slides as he catches
a foul ball hit by Florida Marlins'
Hanley Ramirez for an out during
the third inning during the first
inning of the first baseball game of a
doubleheader on Tuesday,
Sept. 22, 2009 in Miami.
MIAMI -- Anibal Sanchez allowed two hits in eight innings to beat Philadelphia for the first time in five career decisions, and the Florida Marlins' 3-0 victory gave them a doubleheader split Tuesday.
Joe Blanton gave up two hits in seven shutout innings to outpitch Marlins ace Josh Johnson in the first game, which Philadelphia won 9-3. That reduced to five the Phillies' magic number for clinching the NL East.
Sanchez (3-7) struck out seven and walked two in his longest outing since Sept. 16, 2006. The right-hander, spent two stints on the disabled list this year with shoulder sprains.
Jamie Moyer (12-10), who had won his previous eight games in Miami, allowed three runs - including a pair of solo homers - in seven innings.
Dan Uggla hit his 30th home run and Cody Ross added a career-high 23rd. NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez had two hits and doubled home the Marlins' other run.
Philadelphia fell to 5-1 in doubleheader games this season.
Facing the NL's highest-scoring team, Sanchez gave up a walk to start the game, then retired 10 in a row before Chase Utley singled. Those were the Phillies' only baserunners until the seventh, when Utley led off with a double but was stranded.
Philadelphia finished the doubleheader 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position.
Leo Nunez pitched a perfect ninth and completed the two-hitter for his 23rd save in 29 chances. Ryan Howard's flyout near the 434-foot sign in center ended the game.
Blanton (11-7) struck out nine and walked two. Johnson (15-5) twice struck out the side and had 10 strikeouts in five innings, but he gave up seven hits and four runs.
"If he doesn't give up any runs, or if he gives up a lot of runs, I still have to go out and pitch and stick with the same game plan either way," Blanton said.
The Phillies' right-hander went six shutout innings in his last start to beat Washington. He said he had better stuff this time, thanks to a slider that had been unreliable of late.
