MIAMI — Adam Morgan’s recent improvement continued as he pitched the Phillies to a 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
Morgan entered the game having lost nine straight decisions over his last 15 big-league appearances. That was the longest losing streak in the majors this season and longest by a Phillie since Kyle Abbott lost 11 straight in 1992.
The Phillies have won two in a row for the first time since Aug. 13-14. At 62-76, they are one victory shy of last season’s win total.
The Marlins have lost 10 of their last 11.
Starting pitching report
Morgan (2-9) rang up his third strong outing over his last four starts. The lefty scattered five hits over six walk-free innings. He struck out five.
Morgan has pitched 12 2/3 innings and allowed just three runs without walking a batter in his last two outings. He has benefited from an improved changeup and the addition of a two-seam fastball.
Morgan was 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA in eight games, seven starts, at Triple A Lehigh Valley this season.
Miami right-hander Jose Urena gave up seven hits and four runs over five innings. He is 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA.
Bullpen report
Hector Neris, who had been brilliant since the All-Star break, inherited a three-run lead in the eighth. He gave up a double and a two-run homer as the Marlins cut the Phils’ lead to one. Neris was able to hang on and get through the rocky inning with the lead. He struck out Jeff Francoeur with two men on base to end the frame. Before the inning, Neris had given up just two runs, one earned, in 23 appearances since the All-Star break.
Jeanmar Gomez survived a throwing error by Maikel Franco in the ninth in nailing down his 35th save. He got the final two outs with two men on base.
At the plate
Freddy Galvis continued to swing a hot bat. One day after kick-starting a Phillies’ win with a two-run home run, he drove in two runs with a pair of RBI singles, one in the first inning and one in the fifth.
Tommy Joseph also drove in two runs for the Phillies with a sacrifice fly and a double.
Odubel Herrera was on base four times and scored three runs. He singled and scored in the first and tripled and scored in the third.
Cesar Hernandez had three hits for the Phils.
Ichiro Suzuki made it a one-run game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Adeiny Hechavarria was on base. He had doubled. Hechavarria drove home the Marlins’ first run with a single in the fifth.
In the field
Herrera played an inspired game. In addition to getting on base four times, he made a terrific running catch on Francoeur’s liner to the track in center in the second inning.
Asher coming
Alec Asher, 24, will start for the Phillies on Thursday in Washington. The right-hander served an 80-game suspension this season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Asher, acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA in seven starts for the Phillies last season. In four outings with Triple A Lehigh Valley before his suspension, Asher went 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA.
Transaction
The Marlins activated slugger Giancarlo Stanton from the DL before the game. He had a pinch-hit single. He is only available for pinch-hitting duty.
Up next
The series concludes on Wednesday night. Jeremy Hellickson (10-8, 3.88) pitches against Marlins right-hander Andrew Cashner (4-11, 5.00).