MIAMI – Jerad Eickhoff gave up 827 feet of real estate on two homers by Giancarlo Stanton and another 446 feet on an upper-deck blast by Justin Bour.
But that didn’t settle things.
The winning run was scored on Dee Gordon’s single in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Miami Marlins edged the Phillies, 6-5, Monday night at Marlins Park.
With one out in the 10th, Derek Dietrich hit a long ball to the wall in right field. Late-game substitution Ty Kelly couldn’t grab it, crashing into the wall on his attempt as Dietrich legged out a triple. The Phillies walked two batters intentionally to get to a pinch hitter, backup catcher A.J. Ellis. After Ellis hit into a fielder’s choice, Gordon drove a pitch to right field for the winner.
Meanwhile, Stanton has 28 homers, which – pending results of other games on Monday – leads the National League and is second in the majors behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who has 30.
In the seventh, Stanton nearly hit a third homer. But his high drive to deep left-center was caught by leftfielder Cameron Perkins, who jumped just a bit higher than centerfielder Odubel Herrera to make the grab up against the wall. After making the catch, Herrera fell on top of Perkins.
MLB
Close call
With the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, Miami had a chance for a walk-off win. But closer Hector Neris, inheriting Ricardo Pinto’s mess, struck out Christian Yelich. Marcell Ozuna then hit a line drive off Neris’ body. The ball bounced to first baseman Tommy Joseph for the inning-ending out.
Wasted
With one out and the score tied 5-5 in the eighth, the Phillies had the bases loaded but failed to score. Both Brock Stassi (fastball) and pinch hitter Daniel Nava (curveball) were each caught looking at strike three on pitches by reliever David Phelps.
Ineffective
Eickhoff took a no-decision in his second start after coming off the disabled list with a back injury. He allowed five runs in six innings. He struck out eight but walked four and gave up those three homers.
Long ball
Stanton had been 1 for 6 with no extra-base hits in his career against Eickhoff before connecting twice on Monday. Stanton leads the Marlins with 28 homers, which is one more than he had in each of the past two years. His career high is 37.
Busted
One day after his first career grand slam, rookie rightfielder Nick Williams had only half a bat left after his second-inning groundout. Tom Koehler calmly ignored the shattered bat that flew past him and grabbed the ground ball, throwing Williams out at first.
Rally
The Phillies took a 4-2 lead in the third, forcing Miami’s Koehler to throw 38 pitches in the frame. Koehler got the first two batters in the inning before walking Cesar Hernandez, who drew six bases on balls in a minor-league rehab game on Sunday. Freddy Galvis followed with an opposite-field RBI double, slapping at a 93-mph fastball. After another walk, Maikel Franco delivered an RBI single to center, and Williams hit a two-run double on a ball that one-hopped the wall in right-center.
Nasty
With two outs and Stanton on second in the third inning, Eickhoff threw perhaps his best pitch of the night. On a 1-2 count, Eickhoff snapped a sharp curveball that broke away from All-Star Marcell Ozuna, striking him out swinging.
Up next
Tuesday’s pitching matchup features Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez against Marlins LHP Adam Conley. Velasquez (elbow) will come off the disabled list to make the start but hasn’t pitched since May 30. Mark Leiter Jr. was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley after Monday's loss to clear room for Velasquez.
Conley will be promoted from Triple A New Orleans and hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 8.