Phils Lose to Marlins 5-1

By the time Ricky Nolasco went to the mound, he already had a five-run lead. The way he was throwing, he didn't need that much support.

Nolasco took a four-hitter into the ninth, Ronny Paulino hit a three-run homer and the Florida Marlins beat the Phillies 5-1 on Saturday night.

The Marlins scored all their runs off Jamie Moyer (1-1) in the first inning. Nolasco (1-0) did the rest, shutting down the highest-scoring team in the majors on a chilly night.

He was one out away from his second career shutout when Jayson Werth
hit a solo homer.

“The big key was our five-run first inning,” Nolasco said. “After that, I could just attack and try to keep them
off-balance.”

Nolasco mixed a sharp sinker with a lively fastball and deceptive offspeed pitches to hold down an offense that was averaging 7.7 runs coming in.

“He was great,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “To go through that gauntlet is really something.”

Nolasco retired the first 11 batters before Chase Utley lined a single to center in the fourth. The right-hander gave up five hits, struck out four and walked three, needing 109 pitches to record his fourth career complete game.

Nolasco pitched a one-hitter in a 2-1 rain-shortened victory over Boston last June. His only shutout came at San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2008.

“It means a lot to me to go nine,” Nolasco said. “It helps our bullpen get some rest. It helps the whole team.”

Moyer settled down nicely after a rough first. He gave up five runs and six hits in six innings, striking out seven. The 47-year-old left-hander once owned the Marlins, but he's lost four of his last five decisions after a 12-1 start against them.

One bad inning has hurt Moyer in both of his starts. He's tossed 10 shutout innings and given up 10 runs in the other two.

Moyer got the first batter out then ran into trouble. Cameron Maybin singled and Hanley Ramirez walked before Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla hit consecutive RBI singles. Paulino then drove a 1-2 pitch into the left-field seats for a 5-0 lead.

“I did what I was trying to do, but didn't get in far enough,” Moyer said.
“I have a feeling he was looking for a ball in.”


Paulino spent most of spring training with the Phillies last year before he was traded to San Francisco for left-handed reliever Jack Taschner.

Nolasco pitched out of his only jam in the sixth. The Phillies loaded the bases on a single by Brian Schneider and two walks, but Ryan Howard grounded out to first to end the threat.

“He's pitched some good games against us,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Once he got the lead, he was good.”