MIAMI -- The Phillies received a strong start from Cole Hamels on Monday night, but once again did not support the left-hander offensively. The Phils ended up with a 5-1 loss to the Miami Marlins.
It was the 18th time in 45 games that the Phils have scored two or fewer runs.
The loss was the Phillies’ third this month against the Marlins, who have the National League’s worst record (13-32). The Phils (21-24) are 4-4 against the Marlins this season.
The Phillies supported Hamels with just one run. They have scored just 20 runs in the 62 2/3 innings that Hamels has pitched this season. In Hamels’ last eight starts, the Phils have scored just 13 runs while he has been in the game.
Ten starts into the season, Hamels is 1-7. The Phils are 1-9 in his 10 starts.
Starting pitching report
Hamels allowed two runs over six innings, did not walk a batter and struck out a season-high 10. Sixty-seven of his 89 pitches were strikes. Hamels had his best fastball of the season. It hit 95 on the stadium radar gun.
Miami right-hander Alex Sanabia held the Phillies to seven hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Bullpen report
The Phillies’ bullpen allowed three runs.
Marlins’ right-hander Ryan Webb got two huge outs with runners on the corners in the seventh. He got pinch-hitter Laynce Nix to pop out to shallow right and Jimmy Rollins to ground out to second to preserve the Marlins’ 2-1 lead.
A.J. Ramos pitched a scoreless eighth for Miami and Chad Qualls got the final three outs.
At the plate
The Phillies were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. Their only run came on a solo homer by Domonic Brown in the second inning. He leads the team with eight homers.
Hamels allowed three hits in the first inning. The third, by Marcell Ozuna, drove in a run. Justin Ruggiano’s two-out double off the right-field wall against Hamels in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie. Ruggiano added an RBI single in the eighth. Nick Green followed with a two-run single as his blooper fell in front of Ben Revere, who, as always, was playing deep.
Health check
Mike Adams went on the disabled list, Carlos Ruiz is headed there, and Ryan Howard is day to day. Lots of health news here (see story).
Up next
Right-hander Tyler Cloyd (0-0, 2.84) opposes right-hander Jose Fernandez (2-2, 3.48) on Tuesday night.
Fernandez, who was pitching high school ball in Tampa two years ago, has faced the Phillies twice this season. In 13 innings against the Phils, he has just three hits and no runs. He has struck out 14 and walked just three.
Cloyd comes up from Triple A for the start.