Pinch hitter Cristian Pache hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Friday night to tie the franchise record with their 13th consecutive win as visitors. .
The Phillies, who were coming off a three-game sweep of the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays, moved 1 1/2 games behind the second-ranked Marlins in the NL East by tie the franchise record for road wins set in 1976. The Atlanta Braves lead the division.
Miami led 3-1 entering the ninth before JT Realmuto hit a leadoff single off reliever AJ Puk (4-3) and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Alec Bohm then hit a one-out double that scored Realmuto and made it 3–2. Puk struck out pinch hitter Josh Harrison to set the stage for Pache’s exploits.
The 24-year-old Pache sent an 0-for-1 pitch to center field, barely clearing the fence for the first pinch-hit home run of his career.
Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler allowed seven hits, three runs and struck out seven. Jeff Hoffman (2-1) replaced him in the seventh and pitched two innings for the win. Craig Kimbrel pitched a shutout ninth inning and earned his 14th save.
Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara allowed eight hits, one run and struck out five with no walks in his last start before the All-Star break. He allowed a solo homer to Realmuto in the sixth that cut Miami’s lead to 3-1.
MLB batting average leader Luis Arraez, who will be the starting second baseman for the National League at next week’s All-Star Game in Seattle, hit a two-out single in the seventh. His average is .386. Some fans at the Marlins’ home ballpark chanted “MVP” during their at-bats.
After a two-run second inning for Miami, Garrett Cooper gave the Marlins a 3–0 lead with a solo home run to right field in the fourth. He also singled in the sixth.