BOX SCORE
The Phillies offense sputtered once again Monday and the teams poor start continued in a 6-2 loss to the Miami Marlins in the home opener at Citizens Bank Park.
The loss dropped the Phils to 1-3. Miami is 2-3.
Starting pitching report
Cole Hamels had good enough stuff to strike out nine in 5 13 innings, but he allowed eight hits and four runs in taking the loss. One of the runs Hamels allowed was unearned after he committed a two-base throwing error in the sixth.
Miami righthander Anibal Sanchez held the Phillies to six hits and two runs over 6 13 innings. He walked one and struck out four.
Bullpen report
With a day off Tuesday, Phils manager Charlie Manuel got Jonathan Papelbon on the mound in the ninth inning. The Phils were down by three runs at the time. Papelbon surrendered a leadoff homer as the Phils went down by four runs.
Chad Qualls, who was unavailable because of a sore right heel Sunday, said he was feeling better Monday. He warmed up, but did not appear in the game.
At the plate
The Marlins hit three home runs, two by Omar Infante and one by Austin Kearns. Cleanup man Gaby Sanchez drove in a pair of runs with a single and a double.
Freddy Galvis broke out of a season-opening 0-for-12 skid with his first big-league hit, a two-run double in the seventh.
Otherwise, the Phillies offense continued to struggle. Five of the Phillies six hits were singles. In four games, they have gotten the leadoff man aboard in just six of 37 innings.
In the field. John Mayberry Jr. became the fourth different starting first baseman in as many games.
Health check
Ryan Howard, recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, took ground balls before the game. He will have a checkup with surgeon Mark Myerson in Baltimore on Tuesday. There remains no timetable for Howards return, but he does appear to be making progress.
Attendance
The crowd of 45,574 was the Phillies 205th consecutive sellout.
Up next
The two teams are off Tuesday. The series resumes on Wednesday night with Josh Johnson (0-1, 4.50) opposing Roy Halladay (1-0, 0.00).E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
