Chen, Marlins struggle in loss to Phillies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Marlins got shut down by a pitcher who could help them down the stretch.
Jeremy Hellickson struck out eight in eight impressive innings, Tyler Goeddel hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Miami 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Hellickson (7-7) allowed one run and five hits, improving his value as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches. The Marlins could be among the teams interested.
"He's a guy that's got good mix with his changeup," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "The guy that's able to change speeds like that and kind of yo-yo us, we've had some issues with. (Adam) Wainwright did it to us the other day, a lot of slow stuff, and we just didn't seem to have the game plan we needed with those guys."
Miami's Wei-Yin Chen (5-4) gave up four runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Chris Johnson hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Marlins.
Goeddel snapped an 0-for-16 slump with an opposite-field shot to right to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the first. He lined an RBI single to right to make it 3-0 in the second.
Peter Bourjos had a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Hellickson didn't need much support. He shut down the Marlins for his first win since July 1.
Hellickson, who started on opening day, is likely to be traded to a contending team in the next 10 days. He signed a $7 million, one-year deal with the Phillies in the offseason.
The 29-year-old right-hander is 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in his last seven starts.
"Just kind of got handcuffed all night offensively," Mattingly said.
Jeanmar Gomez finished for his 26th save in 29 tries.
STATS
Goeddel's three RBIs are a career best. The homer was his first hit since July 1. ... 2B Cesar Hernandez snapped an 0-for-20 slump with an infield single in the second inning. He finished 3 for 4. ... Giancarlo Stanton was 0 for 4 and is 1 for 12 in the series. ... Marlins C J.T. Realmuto is batting .368 (32-87) with a .415 on-base percentage over his last 21 games played. ... Christian Yelich is batting .364 (32-88) in 21 career games in Philadelphia.
STANDINGS
The Marlins lost (51-43) for just the second time in nine games. They lead the Mets by one game for the second wild-card spot in the NL. The Phillies (44-52) are eight games behind Miami.
MR. 3000
Ichiro Suzuki flied out to deep right-center as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. He remains at 2,994 career hits.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Mattingly said 2B Dee Gordon is fine after cramping in his leg forced him to leave a game early at Triple-A New Orleans. Gordon is serving an 80-game suspension for a positive drug test and is eligible to rejoin Miami on July 28.
UP NEXT:
RHP Tom Koehler (6-8, 4.68 ERA) starts for the Marlins while RHP Jerad Eickhoff (6-10, 3.76) goes for the Phillies in the series finale Thursday.