Marlins slammed as Phils put up 20 runs
PHILADELPHIA » Long counts and long drives helped the Philadelphia Phillies to an easy win.
Maikel Franco and Aaron Altherr each hit a grand slam, Carlos Santana and Jorge Alfaro also went deep and the Phillies routed the Miami Marlins 20-1 Saturday night.
Vince Velasquez (1-1) allowed one run and four hits, striking out six in six innings.
Franco finished with six RBIs after just missing another homer when his two-run double hit high off the left-center field wall. He has driven in 10 runs in the past two games.
Santana’s shot to deep right field was his 1,000th career hit.
Manager Gabe Kapler has been impressed with his team’s patient approach at the plate. Philadelphia’s hitters walked six times and saw 200 pitches.
“We’ve been grinding out atbats and great things happened,” Kapler said.
Marlins left-hander Dillon Peters (1-1) gave up nine runs and nine hits in 2.2 innings. Miami catcher Bryan Holaday tossed a perfect eighth, fanning Rhys Hoskins on a 62 mph pitch to end the inning and earn smiles from teammates in the dugout.
Franco’s homer in the first made it 5-1. Altherr’s drive in the third extended the lead to 9-1. He was 1 for 19 this season before putting one in the seats in left.
“I’m seeing the ball really good, feel really comfortable and just trying to get deeper in the count and hit a good pitch,” Franco said.
The Phillies had not hit two slams in one game since Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez connected against Washington on April 27, 2009.
They scored 19 runs combined in the first six games before becoming the first NL team to score 20 in one of its first 10 games of a season since the 1954 Chicago Cubs.
Santana’s blast highlighted an eight-run fourth inning off Jacob Turner.
Even Velasquez had two of Philadelphia’s 20 hits. The Phillies have won two in a row after dropping four of their first five.
“Man, 20 runs, that’s crazy,” Velasquez said. “It motivated me to at least get five. My first two innings were tough but I settled down and found my groove.”