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JUSTIN MAXON / Associated Press
Cole Hamels gave up two earned runs with seven strikeouts in just over six innings, but took the loss. He also broke up a Marlins no-hitter in the fifth inning with a single.
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Phillies struggle against Marlins
Perhaps the best thing the Phillies could say yesterday at Citizens Bank Park is that despite the inconsistencies and frustrations, they remain in first place in the National League East.
Contact staff writer Todd Zolecki at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/phillieszone.
They remain the hunted, and Charlie Manuel and his team would much rather be leading the chase than chasing the leader.
"It's better to be ahead than behind and looking up," Jimmy Rollins said.
But yesterday's 3-0 loss to the Florida Marlins illustrated what could be a problem come September - they've been struggling against their NL East rivals. They have 11 more games against the New York Mets and Marlins with 48 games to play. That might not sound like a lot, but the Phillies are 4-9 against the Mets and 5-7 against the Marlins this season. They are 53-36 against everybody else.
"We just have to have a better record than them after 162 games," Rollins said. "It doesn't matter who you're playing. If they're in the way, we've got to beat them. If they're not in the way, we've got to beat the team that's in front of us and not worry about them. The best record is going to get you to the playoffs, regardless of who you beat."
"We're really going to have to step it up a notch," said Cole Hamels, who allowed two earned runs in 61/3 innings. "They are in our division, and because they're the ones nipping at our heels. As it goes on, though, we do play a lot of games against other teams, and I think that's when we've really been able to go out there and win. I think if you can get away with it, it's great.
"But when it really comes down to it in September, we're really going to have to win those games against the division rivals."
A night after playing one of their better games of the season, the Phillies couldn't hit Marlins righthander Chris Volstad, who was making just the fifth start of his career. He had a no-hitter through 42/3 innings before Hamels singled to center in the fifth.
It's the seventh time this season the Phillies have been shut out. They were shut out a combined six times in 2006 and 2007.
"It's not like we're not going up there and trying," Shane Victorino said.
But the results against the Mets and Marlins haven't been good. Fortunately, the Phils don't play either one again until they face the Mets for a two-game series later this month.
Contact staff writer Todd Zolecki at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/phillieszone.
