The Phillies could not recover from a Domonic Brown misplay in suffering a 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.
Brown misplayed what should have been the third out in the fourth inning. It led to three runs -- Miami’s total for the game.
The loss prevented the Phils from picking up a game in the NL East standings. They have lost four of their last five games, including two of the first three on this homestand. The Phils are 35-42 on the season and 17-23 at home.
Starting pitching report
A.J. Burnett continued his run of strong pitching with seven innings of three-run ball. It could have been seven shutout innings had leftfielder Brown not misplayed a ball with two outs in the fourth.
Burnett allowed five hits, walked three and struck out eight. He has delivered four straight quality starts.
Miami’s Henderson Alvarez allowed just two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
MLB
Alvarez is 5-3. Burnett is 5-7.
Bullpen report
Antonio Bastardo and Justin De Fratus both pitched a scoreless inning as the Phillies’ bullpen continued to shine.
Mike Dunn, Kevin Gregg and Steve Cishek combined on scoreless relief work for the Marlins. Cishek earned his 18th save.
At the plate
Chase Utley (sacrifice fly) and Brown (RBI single) drove in the Phillies’ runs.
The Phils had the first two runners on base in the bottom of the second and bottom of the fourth innings and got nothing both times. They had 11 at-bats with a runner in scoring position, but just two hits.
Marcell Ozuna and Jarrod Saltalamacchia had back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning to drive home Miami’s three runs.
In the field
Brown cost the Phillies three runs when he misplayed a very catchable line drive by Ozuna into a double with two outs in the fourth inning. A run scored on the play and Saltalamacchia followed with a two-run double.
Minor matters
Outfielder Grady Sizemore will report to Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday. It is likely he will work out for a day or two before playing for the IronPigs. Phillies officials will spend a couple of weeks evaluating Sizemore to determine whether they believe he can help the big club. A decision on Sizemore could come quickly. A source said the outfielder can opt out of his contract during the all-star break if he is not in the majors.
Health check
Cliff Lee will throw to hitters on Friday (see story).
Up next
Cole Hamels (2-4, 2.76) faces Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler (5-6, 3.74) on Thursday night in the series finale.