Philadelphia @ Miami preview
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Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2012 ) Philadelphia 2, Miami 6
Cole Hamels only has three losses this season - and two have come at the hands of the Miami Marlins. The Philadelphia Phillies left-hander will attempt to defeat the Marlins for the first time this season on Saturday when the National League East rivals continue their three-game series in Miami. Hamels will be opposed by fellow southpaw Mark Buehrle, who has also dropped a pair of decisions to Philadelphia this season.
Justin Ruggiano matched a career high with three hits - including a two-run double - and Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI single and scored twice as Miami cruised to a 6-2 triumph in the series opener. The Marlins have won two straight after losing 17 of their previous 20 games. The Phillies have dropped three consecutive contests to fall a season-high 10 games behind first-place Washington.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), FSFL (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.03 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Mark Buehrle (6-8, 3.55)
Hamels scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings, but saw his 11th victory of the season go by the boards after reliever Antonio Bastardo yielded a three-run homer in the eighth. The 28-year-old had his eight-game winning streak snapped on June 2 after Miami pinned five runs on him. Hamels also lost his season opener to the Marlins on April 9, yielding four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Buehrle snapped a four-game losing skid by tossing seven scoreless innings against Toronto on Sunday. The 33-year-old is 3-2 in his career versus Philadelphia, although he was touched for four runs on a season-high 11 hits in five innings in a 6-4 loss on June 1. Buehrle pitched better on April 12, but still dropped a 3-1 decision to the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Hunter Pence provided the lone offense for Philadelphia after he homered for the second straight game and added an RBI single. Pence is 4-for-6 with a homer in his career versus Buehrle.
2. Marlins reliever Edward Mujica had X-rays performed on his right foot after being struck by a line drive in the seventh inning. His availability is unknown for Saturday's contest.
3. Miami Heat veteran Shane Battier is expected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Saturday's game.