Hamels hit hard in Phillies' loss to Marlins

MIAMI - Five days after Cole Hamels' arguably best start of the season came his worst in a calendar year. It didn't take long in the Phillies' 7-0 loss Saturday to feel the game was out of reach for the major leagues' worst offense.

The red-hot Miami Marlins tagged Hamels for six runs and 10 hits, chasing the Phillies ace after six innings. Dan Haren and a pair of relievers shut down the Phillies (8-17), losers of five consecutive games and 11 of their 13 road games this season.

The shutout was the Phillies' third through 25 games. They have scored two or fewer runs in 13 games. Their 2.64 runs per game is the worst mark in the majors.

Hamels surrendered his eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot by Martin Prado in the second inning. That is tied for the most in the majors among healthy starters. Prado's was the first of those eight homers that came with runners on base. The six runs allowed were Hamels' most in an outing since April 29, 2014.

"I don't like to lose. I think that's the No. 1 [thing] I always preach," Hamels said. "I want to win. I want to get the opportunity to win. It hasn't been the case because of what I've been doing, giving up early runs, giving up home runs. Giving up more than two to three runs, you're not giving yourself a chance at any sort of opportunity."

The Phillies haven't won a Hamels start at Marlins Park since Sept. 30, 2012. The 31-year-old lefthander's command hasn't been sharp this season. Three more walks Saturday gave him 19 through 37 innings. He has issued three or more free passes in all but one of his six starts.

The opposition continues to make him pay for his mistakes. Prado's homer came on a 3-1 cutter intended for the inside part of the plate. Instead it crossed over the heart of the dish.

"I guess I'm not getting away with anything," said Hamels, who didn't allow more than five hits in any of his five April starts. "I think most guys can't locate 100 out of 100. You're hoping that you can at least get away with a few things. But unfortunately with what I'm doing and what I'm throwing, and maybe it's the pitch sequence, I'm just putting too many counts into hitters' counts."

Dee Gordon reached base in each of his five at-bats, tallying three hits, stealing two bases, and scoring three runs. The speedy Marlins second baseman's blistering .440 average and 44 hits lead the majors. Prado also continued to mash against the Phillies, driving in another four runs to give him 10 RBIs over 21 at-bats against them this year.

Since the Phillies' April 21 win against Haren and the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, Miami (12-12) has reeled off nine wins in 10 games.

The Phillies, meanwhile, have won three times since their lone 2015 win against Miami.

"Their lineup just kept coming with threats and with opportunities, and they were able to add on," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.

"On the other side of things, we weren't able to pose any threat throughout the game. [We were] shut down on the offensive side of things."