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MIAMIDavid Herndons streak of 13 straight scoreless appearances came to an end Saturday and as a result so did the Phillies five-game winning streak.
Pitching for the first time in eight days, Herndon hung a 1-0 changeup to Gaby Sanchez with one-out in the eighth inning and Sanchez clubbed it high over the leftfield wall for a three-run home run. Sanchez homer was one of three that Herndon allowed in an ugly eighth as a one-run Phillies lead quickly turned into an 8-4 loss to the Florida Marlins.
They hit the mistakes I made and hit them hard, Herndon said after the game.
Cole Hamels pitched solidly in his second start off the disabled list and he was on his way to his 14th win when the bullpen fell apart in the eighth inning.
Antonio Bastardo, who has had a brilliant season in the Phils bullpen, had a difficult time answering the call for a third straight game. The lefthander entered with a 4-3 lead and quickly walked the first two batters he faced. Manager Charlie Manuel then went to Herndon, who was lit up. After giving up the home run to Sanchez, Herndon surrendered long balls to Mike Cameron and Greg Dobbs. The Marlins hit five home runs in the game, including two off Hamels.
Manuel said he used Bastardo to start the eighth because left-handed hitting Logan Morrison was due up second.
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He can pitch three days in a row, Manuel said of Bastardo. I was only looking for him to take us to Morrison.
Manuel went to Herndon after Bastardo because he was saving Brad Lidge for the ninth inning. Manuel said he was trying to stay away from Ryan Madson, who had pitched three days in a row. Madson should be available on Sunday, but Bastardo will likely get a day off.
Ive got a lot of confidence in Bastardo, Manuel said. I figured wed use him there and rest him Sunday. Well have Lidge and Madson Sunday.
Manuel doesnt seem to trust many arms in his bullpen. Bastardo and Madson are his top two choices on nights he gets seven innings from his starter. But he will have to monitor their work so they stay fresh for October. At 88-47, the Phils still have the best record in the majors.
The bullpen wasnt the only culprit in this defeat. The Phils had just one hit after the fourth inning, a ninth-inning single by Raul Ibanez.
We had chances, but we couldnt cash in, Manuel said. They had five homers and won the game.
Herndon said the long layoff between outings did not affect his pitching.
It was one of those nights, he said. Im not a pinpoint guy. When my sinker flattens out in the zone, its going to get hit.
The best bit of news to come out of the game was Hamels continued good health. He continued to show that he is over the bout of shoulder inflammation that caused him to miss a couple of starts last month.
Hamels gave up just four hits, but two of them were home runs. Like Herndon, he made some mistakes over the plate and they got hit.
The Marlins had lost 22 of 27 games entering the night. Friday nights loss prompted manager Jack McKeon to lay into his club.
Im getting tired of looking at this stuff, he said. Its time to wake up.
The Marlins bats woke up Saturday night.
On Sunday, the Phillies play their last game ever in Sun Life Stadium. The Marlins move into a new stadium next year.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com