Miami Marlins rookie starting pitcher Jose Fernandez hasn't had much trouble with the Philadelphia Phillies this season and will take the mound again in this series Tuesday.
Fernandez is 1-0 with a 0.00 earned run average in two starts against the Phillies this season, spanning 13 innings. He threw six shutout innings of two-hit ball in a 2-1 win on April 13, then held the Phillies to one hit in seven frames with nine strikeouts during a 2-0 victory May 4.
The right-hander, who is 2-0 in his last four starts overall and 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in eight outings, has no record in three starts at Marlins Park. He allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-3 loss to Cincinnati on Thursday for a no-decision. He threw a career-high 99 pitches.
Miami has a chance for a series tonight after taking the opener of this set, 5-1, behind a strong pitching performance from Alex Sanabia. Sanabia limited the Phillies to a run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings and outdueled Phils ace Cole Hamels, who dropped to 1-7 despite allowing two runs in six frames and striking out 10 batters.
Justin Ruggiano and Nick Green each knocked in a run, while former Phillie Placido Polanco had two hits and two runs scored for the Marlins, who have won two in a row since losing seven straight.
"We've been waiting for those hits, and tonight we were fortunate enough to get a couple," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.
The Marlins are 2-5 on a nine-game homestand.
Philadelphia entered last night's game winners in five of seven games, and once again failed to provide Hamels with run support. Hamels did not talk with the media after ward and the Phillies are 1-9 when he takes the hill.
Jimmy Rollins, Michael Young and Domonic Brown all had two hits for Philadelphia. Brown added his team-leading eighth home run of the season.
"We have the talent and ability ... we just have to get going," Brown said.
The Phillies will be without catcher Carlos Ruiz for a few weeks after he was placed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. First baseman Ryan Howard received a cortisone shot in his balky left knee and is day-to-day. Howard is hitting .245 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 41 games this season.
Philadelphia fell 5 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the NL East lead and looks to get back on track on this eight-game road trip.
Phillies right-hander Tyler Cloyd was recalled from the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs for the second time this season and gets the nod tonight. Cloyd made a spot start for Roy Halladay back on May 10 at Arizona and pitched well in the no-decision. Even though the Phils lost, 3-2, Cloyd tossed 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball.
Cloyd has never faced the Marlins in his brief stint in the majors. Cloyd made six starts for the Phillies last season (2-2, 4.91 ERA) and is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in seven major league starts.
Philadelphia and Miami have split eight meetings this season, but the Phils have won 11 of the last 17 matchups between the NL East inhabitants.
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