Marlins seek first series win in finale vs. Phillies

Now that the Miami Marlins have finally broken their five-game losing streak and busted out of a brutal hitting slump, perhaps they can win their first series of the year Sunday.

The Marlins routed the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 10-3 on Saturday after scoring a total of just two runs in their previous four games. The Marlins also banged out a season-best 18 hits.

"That was a really fun game," said rookie outfielder Austin Dean, who was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans on Friday and led Miami by going 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs.

"Before I got here, we were struggling a little bit. I know that's not us -- at all."

On Sunday, Miami's Jose Urena (0-3, 9.22 ERA) hopes to get similar run support as he battles Philadelphia's Vince Velasquez (0-0, 3.00 ERA) in a matchup of right-handers.

Urena will be seeking a trend-altering win. He has never won a major league game in March or April, going 0-7 with a 5.97 ERA in 18 games (nine starts).

Urena is 3-4 with a 4.92 ERA in 14 appearances (10 starts) against Philadelphia.

Velasquez has had success in 10 career appearances against the Marlins, all starts, going 4-2 with a 3.18 ERA. At Marlins Park, though, he is 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA in four starts.

Dean, who made his major league debut Aug. 15 and has now played 36 games in the majors, set career highs in hits and RBIs on Saturday. He also fell a triple short of the cycle. He hit an RBI double in the seventh that was originally called a triple but later changed in a ruling by the official scorers.

Either way, it was a big night for Dean and the entire Marlins offense.

"He's excited about being here," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "He was our minor league player of the year (in 2018). He was OK (in the majors) -- wasn't great but had some good moments."

He certainly had a major moment on Saturday, and it left the Phillies a bit perplexed as to what happened to starting pitcher Zach Eflin, who entered with a 0.75 ERA but exited with a 3.94 figure next to his name after allowing six runs in four innings.

"It was obvious," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said, "that (the Marlins) knew where the sweet spot on the bat was."

The Phillies, who have lost three of their past four games, were also shut down on offense before scoring three rather meaningless runs in the ninth inning, when they were already trailing 10-0.

Phillies stars Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto each went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

"They beat us in every element of the game," Kapler said. "We have to play better than this."

--Field Level Media