Dominant Nola, Phillies shut down Marlins for 3-game sweep
Yairo Munoz high fives Matt Vierling after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) ((Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images))
MIAMI - Aaron Nola struck out 10 and pitched scoreless ball into the ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 4-0 Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Yairo Muñoz homered to help Philadelphia head into the All-Star break at 49-43. Even minus injured star Bryce Harper, the Phillies showed a dramatic turnaround after manager Joe Girardi was fired on June 3, going 27-14 under Rob Thomson.
Nola (6-7) gave up four hits and walked one. He was pulled after allowing one-out singles to Joey Wendle and Brian Anderson in the ninth.
José Alvarado relieved and struck out Garrett Cooper and retired Bryan De La Cruz on a grounder for his first save. The Phillies shut out Miami in the final 25 innings of the series.
Nola extended his string of starts of at least seven innings to eight, the second-longest active streak in the major leagues behind Miami ace Sandy Alcantara, who has 13.
The Marlins scored one run in the series. They have not homered in eight games, the second-longest drought in club history — Miami teams in 1993 and 2019 failed to go deep in nine straight games.
The Phillies scored all their runs in the fourth. Alec Bohm and Matt Vierling had consecutive RBI doubles and Muñoz hit a two-run homer. Muñoz drove the first pitch from Trevor Rogers (4-9) over the wall in left for his third homer.
Rogers went six innings, allowing seven hits and plunking two batters. Miami designated hitter Jesús Aguilar didn't last that long — he was ejected in the second by plate umpire Ron Kulpa for arguing balls and strikes.
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BREAK
The Phillies were 44-44 at the All-Star break last year. They haven't had Harper, the reigning the NL MVP, since his thumb was broken by a pitch from San Diego's Blake Snell on June 25.
The Marlins are 43-48. They were 39-51 at the break last year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Zach Eflin (right knee bruise) will not throw in a simulated game during the break after experiencing soreness Sunday. He will be re-evaluated Monday in Philadelphia. ...RHP Sam Coonrod (right shoulder bruise) will go on a rehab assignment after the All-Star break.
Marlins: RHP Edward Cabrera (right shoulder tendinitis) completed three perfect innings in his rehab start Saturday at Double-A Pensacola. ...RHP Anthony Bender (back stiffness) was scheduled to appear in a rehab outing Sunday at Single-A Jupiter.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Kyle Gibson (5-3, 4.35) will start the opener of a three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Marlins: Have not announced the starter for its home game against Texas on Thursday.