Josh Johnson is now 0-2 on the young season. (Photo: Bryan Green)
PHILADELPHIA – It was another sub-par outing for Miami Marlins’ ace Josh Johnson while the Fish had no answer for Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay in a 7-1 loss on Wednesday.
Johnson helped himself early when a weak ground ball to second drove in Omar Infante to give Miami a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. But in the bottom of the 3rd, Johnson ran into trouble.
Juan Pierre pulled a one-out single for Philadelphia and then stole second on a controversial call. Marlins’ shortstop Jose Reyes appeared to have applied the tag before Pierre reached the base, but was called safe nonetheless. From there, the flood gates open on Johnson. The next four Phillies’ hitters recorded hits leading to three runs giving Philadelphia a 3-1 lead.
After Johnson got John Mayberry Jr. to pop out to second, Johnson walked Ruiz to load the bases and get to Freddy Galvis, who was previously 1-for-14. Galvis delivered a big blow as he pulled a two-run-double to right field to open up a 5-1 lead for the Phillies.
Philadelphia would bring 10 men to the plate in the 3rd inning which accounted for five hits and as many runs.
Johnson would last just 3 2/3 innings giving up six runs on 11 hits; Johnson took the loss to fall to 0-2 on the young season as his ERA ballooned to 8.38. Halladay got the win for Philadelphia going seven solid innings giving up just the one run on five hits to improve to 2-0. The Phillies pounded out 14 hits with every position player recording one. Five Phillies recorded at least two hits. Giancarlo Stanton was the lone Marlin to have a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
The Phillies improved to 2-3 with the victory while moving into third place in the National League East and knocking the Marlins (2-4) into fourth place. The series will conclude on Thursday as Miami will send Mark Buehrle to the hill to face Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton.
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