STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Without the NL home run leader, the Miami Marlins aren’t hitting many home runs.
They’re not scoring many runs, either.
Miami was pretty punchless once again without Giancarlo Stanton, losing 2-1 Wednesday night to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Since losing their slugger to a season-ending facial injury, the Marlins have scored less than three runs in nine of 12 games. They have one home run in the past nine games.
“We’re having a tough time scoring,” manager Mike Redmond said. “We had some guys in scoring position and couldn’t get a couple of hits to score some runs. That’s the way it’s been going since we lost G.”
The Marlins had four doubles and a triple against Kyle Kendrick but went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Their lone run came in the seventh on opposite-field doubles by Garrett Jones and Enrique Hernandez.
Jonathan Papelbon, pitching for the first time since he grabbed his crotch and received a seven-game suspension, earned his 38th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Papelbon pitched around a one-out double in the ninth, striking out Hernandez to end the game.
“The big at-bat was in the ninth inning, and I didn’t get it done,” Hernandez said.
Papelbon pitched for the first time since he blew a save against the Marlins on Sept. 14 and lost his composure when he was booed coming off the field. He grabbed himself in response, and then bumped umpire Joe West.
His resulting suspension ended Sunday.
“It has been boring, it has been aggravating,” Papelbon said. “I play the game because I want to get in there as many nights as I can. It has been rough. It has been bad. I just really had to try to put Joe West in the back of my mind and carry on, even though I feel like I got the raw end of the deal.”
On an 84-degree night, the retractable roof at Marlins Park was open for the first time since May 23. The sultry weather seemed to suit both starting pitchers.
Kyle Kendrick (10-13) and Miami’s Brad Hand each allowed one run in seven innings. Marlon Byrd put the Phillies ahead to stay when he hit a one-out RBI single in the eighth off Chris Hatcher (0-3).
TRAINER’S ROOM
The Marlins’ Christian Yelich and Phils 1B Ryan Howard avoided injury when they collided in the first inning. Yelich was running out his grounder and ran into Howard, who had to stretch for a throw to get the out.
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (9-10, 3.76) makes his seventh and final attempt at his 10th victory in the series finale Thursday afternoon against Phils rookie RHP David Buchanan (6-8, 3.77 ERA). In six starts since Aug. 17, Koehler is 0-1 despite a 3.50 ERA.
LHP Andrew Heaney (0-3, 5.33), the Marlins’ top prospect, will pitch the second game of a doubleheader Friday at Washington. It will be Heaney’s first start since July 5.
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