Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Joe Blanton pitched seven strong innings
in his first start of the season and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami
Marlins, 3-1, in the finale of a three-game series Thursday night.
Blanton (1-1), who lost in a relief appearance Saturday at Pittsburgh, gave up
a run on just three hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton hit leadoff home runs three innings apart and
Jonathan Papelbon picked up his second save for the Phillies, who won the last
two games of the series.
Papelbon gave up two singles, but got John Buck on a double play to end the
game.
Mark Buehrle (0-2) pitched 6 1/3 innings in his second National League start,
giving up three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. The 33-year-old lefty
lost his first NL start last Thursday at Cincinnati.
Florida had six hits and went 2-4 on a six-game road trip.
The first nine Phillies hitters went down in order before Victorino's homer to
left field on an 0-2 pitch leading off the fourth inning. Jimmy Rollins hit a
one-out single, but was thrown out at home plate trying to score on Hunter
Pence's double. Pence scored on John Mayberry's single one pitch later to make
it 2-0.
Blanton gave up a one-out double to Buck in the third inning -- the only
Marlins baserunner until Omar Infante hit a two-out double in the fifth, then
scored on Buck's single.
Wigginton pushed Philadelphia's lead back to two with a homer leading off the
seventh. He fouled off three straight before driving a 1-2 pitch deep into the
left field seats for his first home run as a Phillie.
Buehrle came out for Randy Choate after giving up a one-out single to Freddy
Galvis.
Chad Qualls replaced Blanton to start the eighth and escaped a jam by getting
Giancarlo Stanton on a called third strike with runners at first and second.
GAME NOTES:
The Phillies start a three-game weekend series with the visiting Mets on
Friday...The Marlins begin a three-game series at home against the Astros on
Friday.
The Sports Network