Phillies at Marlins
The Atlanta Braves are not the only thing standing between the Philadelphia Phillies and first place in the National League East -- the Miami Marlins are proving to be an equally daunting roadblock. Despite owning the worst record in the NL, the host Marlins will go for a series sweep and their sixth straight win over the Phillies on Sunday afternoon.
Philadelphia seemingly had turned a corner by amassing 31 runs during a four-game sweep of the New York Mets before arriving in Miami, but they are in danger of being swept by the Marlins for the second time in as many weekends. Rhys Hoskins smacked a two-run homer and Scott Kingery had two hits and drove in a pair of runs but the Phillies blew a five-run lead in Saturday's 9-6 setback to fall to 16-23 on the road. JT Riddle delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in a six-run seventh inning and Neal Walker homered and had three RBIs for Miami, which entered the series having lost 10 of its previous 12 at home. First baseman Garrett Cooper is 5-for-9 with four RBIs in the series for the Marlins, raising his batting average to .325 overall and .389 in June.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network NBCS Philadelphia, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (7-6, 4.33 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-8, 3.94)
Inconsistency continues to plague Arrieta, who has a chance to win back-to-back starts for the first time since mid-April despite giving up five runs and nine hits over six innings to beat the New York Mets on Tuesday. Ironically, he was saddled with the hard-luck loss in his previous turn after limiting Washington to one run and two hits over six innings. Curtis Granderson is 13-for-37 with three homers and 10 RBIs off Arrieta, who has beaten Miami twice this season.
Richards split two decisions to start this month, capping a five-start stretch in which he allowed a combined six runs, but he has sandwiched two rocky outings -- both at home -- around one decent one in the past two weeks. He was tagged for six runs over five innings in a loss to Washington on Tuesday and roughed up for five runs and 11 hits against Pittsburgh on June 11. Hoskins is 4-for-10 against Richards, who is 1-3 with a 6.64 ERA in five starts versus Philadelphia.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 9-for-21 during a six-game hitting streak.
2. Marlins rookie LF Harold RamÃrez has six three-hit games in 42 contests.
3. Phillies OF Jay Bruce was held out of the lineup Saturday due to tightness in his elbow.