Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Eickhoff’s effort wasted
Phillies held to four hits in shutout loss
MIAMI >> The Philadelphia Phillies wasted a terrific outing for Jerad Eickhoff with a lackluster night at the plate.
Philadelphia managed just four hits in a 5-0 loss to Tom Koehler and the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, but Eickhoff tossed seven solid innings.
“The only thing positive I can say about this game I thought Eickhoff was outstanding,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “He hit his spots and pitched like a pitcher should until the end. I’m very happy about that.”
The 26-year-old Eickhoff (6-12) allowed one run and five hits. He struck out eight and walked one.
“I was just being aggressive,” he said. “It’s amazing what attacking and being aggressive will do for your game.”
Giancarlo Stanton and Adeiny Hechavarria each drove in two runs for the Marlins, who were shut out in their previous two games. Koehler pitched six innings of three-hit ball.
Stanton’s two-out RBI single in the sixth snapped a 24-inning scoreless streak for Miami.
“We needed to get some energy going,” Stanton said.
The Marlins broke the game open in the eighth, scoring four runs. Stanton had a ground-rule RBI double, Hechavarria smacked a tworun single to right, and Miguel Rojas added an RBI double.
Ichiro Suzuki made his first start in five games and went 1 for 5, giving him 2,997 career hits. He also stole a base and scored a run.
“This is not a guy that’s just treading his way to 3,000,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “This guy has been helping us big-time all year.”
Suzuki had an extra-base hit
taken away in his first atbat when Peter Bourjos made an impressive catch in right-center. But Suzuki had a leadoff single to left in the eighth.
“It livened up the place up a lot when he got that hit so it was definitely a big help to us,” Stanton said.
Koehler (8-8) also beat Philadelphia in his last start, when he allowed three runs, one earned, in eight innings. He is 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts against the Phillies this season.
“Just stuck to the same game plan that me and Jeff (Mathis) had last time and was able to execute pitches,” Koehler said.
Koehler struck out five and walked one. He threw 73 pitches before leaving with minor stiffness in his pectoral area.
“We thought no way we’re taking any chances with where we’re at pitching-wise with having to bring some guys up and thought we would be cautious with any situation at this moment,” said Mattingly,
who expects Koehler to make his next start.
The Phillies’ best opportunity to score was in the sixth inning. They put two on with one out, but Koehler was able to get out of the jam with two popups.
“He’s impressed me because I’ve seen him in the past and I’ve been unimpressed,” Mackanin said, “but these last two times, we’ve helped him out . ... Swung at too many bad pitches.”
Trainer’s room
Phillies: Bourjos (right shoulder) left in the second inning after crashing into the outfield wall on the catch he made on Suzuki. “I’m sore right now,” Bourjos said. “I’ll see how it feels in the morning. There were no fractures so that’s good news. It’s just sore and stiff right now. In a few days out, hopefully it’s doing better.”
Up next
Phillies: RHP Zach Eflin (3-3, 3.40 ERA) will start the series finale Wednesday afternoon. Eflin is coming off a three-hit shutout at Pittsburgh. The 22-year old rookie is 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA over his past four starts.