By AARON BRACY
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Marlins extended their road struggles as one of their most reliable players couldn't close the deal.
Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run walkoff home run in the ninth inning off Miami closer A.J. Ramos to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-7 victory over the Marlins on Sunday.
Ichiro Suzuki had three hits and an RBI and Cole Gillespie added three hits, a double and an RBI for the Marlins, who have lost a season-high seven straight on the road.
Ryan Howard and Freddy Galvis also homered for the Phillies on a hot, muggy afternoon that felt much warmer than the game-time temperate of 93 degrees.
Ramos (0-2) walked Carlos Ruiz to lead off the ninth and Francoeur hit a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left field to give the Phillies just their second sweep of the season.
"Obviously getting swept here is not exactly what we had in mind," Miami manager Dan Jennings said.
It appeared Miami was headed for victory when Ramos entered. His 1.11 ERA and .139 batting average against prior to the All-Star break were tops among National League relievers, and he had converted 14 of 15 save opportunities since being named closer on May 13.
But he wasn't able to get it done.
"We didn't do the job to finish it off but (Ramos) has been nails all year and I hope we get the chance (Monday) to run him right back out there and let him save a game," Jennings said.
Marlins starter Dan Haren settled down after allowing five runs in the second. He ended up giving up five runs and seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk in six innings.
"That's just a gutty performance in a very hot today and he grinded his way through six innings," Jennings said.
Haren, who is 0-4 with a 6.09 ERA in six career starts at Citizens Bank Park, said pitching in Sunday's heat was difficult.
"It's one of the hottest I've ever played in. It was unhealthy out there," he said. "Luckily, I was able to string together a few zeroes, but it was nasty. For the umpires, the catchers, it's almost dangerous."
Phillies ace Cole Hamels was roughed up for the second straight outing, giving up five runs and eight hits in three innings. The left-hander, considered to be a top candidate to be dealt at the trading deadline, gave up a career-worst nine runs in 3 1/3 innings in his last outing.
"Unfortunately, what I've done in the past week and a half hasn't been up to my standards," Hamels said.
Hector Neris (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win.
Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP and three-time All-Star, might have made his final home start for the Phillies. He expressed an interest in being traded prior to the season and the rebuilding Phillies reportedly have been holding out for top prospects.
However, since his last victory on May 23, Hamels is 0-4 with 5.06 ERA over nine starts.
Hamels got some rare run support in this game. The Phillies had been scoreless in 46 of the last 50 1/3 innings Hamels had pitched. But they scored five runs in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead, setting the stage for Hamels to earn a win. Entering Sunday, he had been 12-1 in 20 starts since 2014 when getting three runs or more of support.
But Miami erased the lead with three runs in the third. Christian Yelich and Gillespie each had RBI singles, and Adeiny Hechavarria had an RBI double in the inning as the Marlins sent seven batters to the plate.
THE OTHER COLE
Gillespie tied his career-high with three hits and is hitting .395 since becoming a starter on July 1.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: 2B Miguel Rojas left after singling in the fifth inning due to stomach nausea. He was replaced by Donovan Solano. Jennings said afterward that Rojas likely would play on Monday.
Phillies: RHP Chad Billingsley saw a doctor on Sunday after experiencing right elbow soreness on Saturday night when he pitched five scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over Miami. Billingsley missed most of the last two seasons due to a pair of right elbow surgeries. He is 2-3 with a 5.84 ERA in seven starts this season.
UP NEXT
Marlins: RHP David Phelps (4-5, 3.86) starts the opener of a three-game series at Arizona on Monday night. The Marlins are winless in four games against the Diamondbacks this season. RHP Rubby De La Rosa (6-5, 5.06) starts for Arizona.
Phillies: RHP David Buchanan (0-5, 7.58) makes his second start since returning from the DL due to a severely sprained right ankle when the Phillies host Tampa Bay on Monday night. He didn't get a decision in his last start when allowing one run on eight hits in five innings of Philadelphia's 8-5 loss at San Francisco July 11. LHP Matt Moore (1-0, 7.07) starts for the Rays.
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