Phillies defeat Marlins, 1-0

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Vance Worley walked into the visitors clubhouse at Sun Life Stadium and headed for his locker because there was no reason to go anywhere else Monday. He had just thrown seven shutout innings in a 1-0 Phillies win over the Florida Marlins and the 23-year-old rookie had more immediate thoughts, such as: What's for dinner?

So he did not see or hear Rich Dubee, the Phillies pitching coach, standing near Charlie Manuel's office.

"Vanimal!" Dubee said. "Come here a minute."

Inside the manager's office, Worley was demoted to triple-A Lehigh Valley. His next start will come in an IronPigs uniform, even though he's allowed just two runs in his last 25 innings at the major-league level.

With the all-star break six days away, there was no room for another Worley start. And instead of the rookie being stagnant for 10 days, he will stay on the routine that has bred so much unexpected success. The Phillies expect him to start against the Mets immediately after the break.

"He understood," assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said.

Worley left Manuel's office with a smile on his face. Frank Coppenbarger, the team's director of team travel and clubhouse services, immediately secured Worley's travel plans to the minors. "It's W-O-R-L-E-Y," Coppenbarger yelled above the cacophony of a victorious clubhouse.

"Whatever they need me to do, that's what I'm going to do," Worley said minutes before learning of his demotion. "If I can continue to stay on pace and have a routine, that's better for me in my opinion, but it is what it is right now."

It's easy to forget the Phillies have the best record in the majors despite missing two of their five starters from the powerhouse rotation envisioned this past winter. That's because Worley has seamlessly assumed a role in a rotation of aces.

Since rejoining the rotation June 16, Worley has lowered his season ERA to 2.20 and has lasted seven innings in each of his last two starts. He retired the last eight batters he faced.

"It's no different," Worley said. "I'm not trying to think too much."

If his last outing, a sparkling effort against the majors' best offense in Boston, was proof he could deliver in big-game situations, Monday was confirmation none of this is a fluke.

Manuel followed the same strategy used to defeat the Red Sox in Worley's last start. After seven innings, he handed the game over to his two young, electric bullpen arms. Michael Stutes dominated the eighth. Antonio Bastardo notched his fifth save in as many chances.

They won Monday only because of a timely swing by Michael Martinez, his first hit in 18 days. He slashed a liner just over Hanley Ramirez's head at shortstop and into shallow left-center. With Worley standing on deck, third-base coach Juan Samuel sent Brown, hoping an aggressive move reaped a run.

It did, but only with the benefit of an umpire's call. Bryan Petersen's throw from center arrived as Brown did at home plate and he appeared to slide under the tag of John Buck. The only problem was replays showed Brown's front foot popped up when he slid and never touched the plate before he was tagged. Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley motioned safe.

It was all Worley would require. Behind the plate, catcher Brian Schneider marveled at Worley's dedication to his fastball and cutter.

"I don't know if any of us could have predicted how well he's been," Schneider said.

That journey will next send Worley to Syracuse, N.Y., where the International League awaits. First he had one more major-league dinner to savor. The clubhouse chef served Mongolian beef and chicken-fried rice. Worley washed it down with a Diet Dr Pepper and one final treat, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

It's sweeter when he knows the minors are just a temporary detour.