Altherr and Arrieta lead shutout win over Marlins

MIAMI » Aaron Altherr drove in his first run of July and later started a sensational relay to protect the lead, helping Jake Arrieta and the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies top the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Friday night.

Arrieta pitched seven innings of three-hit ball. Victor Arano got three outs and Pat Neshek finished the three-hitter for his first save.

Maikel Franco hit his 13th homer of the season in the ninth for the Phillies, who have won 10 of their last 13.

Altherr, who came in hitting only .169, doubled in Scott Kingery in the second inning for all the support Arrieta (7-6) would need. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner struck out three and walked three.

Arrieta faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings, helped by two double plays and a pickoff of Cameron Maybin.

His defense was even better in the sixth, protecting what was then a 1-0 lead.

Pinch hitter Derek Dietrich drove a ball within a couple inches of clearing the fence in right. Altherr — who had just shifted from center to right to start the inning — played the carom, got a one-hopper relay throw to Kingery in short right. Kingery turned and fired the ball to Jorge Alfaro barely in time for him to slap a tag on the back of Maybin’s leg before he could get a cleat on home plate.

It was the ninth time the Marlins have been blanked this season, three of those coming against the Phillies. for Colorado on April 24, 2003, and that initial Utley hit — a grand slam — sailed over his head on its way toward becoming a souvenir. “I remember it well,” Kapler said.