PHILADELPHIA — Nate Robertson was just trying to keep up with his new Florida teammates.
Robertson followed Ricky Nolasco’s complete game Saturday by pitching four-hit ball into the seventh inning Sunday, leading the Marlins to their second straight win over the Phillies, 2-0.
“Big series win but there’s some pretty good arms here. It’s just about going out there and utilizing the talent that you got,” Robertson said. “It’s hard to follow an outing like Nolasco’s.”
Dan Uggla drove in both runs with a homer off Cole Hamels and a double and had three hits. He is 16 for 42 this season, but didn’t want dwell on his early season success at the plate.
“It feels good obviously but I’m not going to get too high or think about it or get too happy about it because I know this game’s a crazy game,” he said. “I’m just going to keep it simple.”
Making his third start for the Marlins after being acquired in a trade from the Tigers before the end of spring training, Robertson (2-0) weaved in and out of trouble, striking out four and walking four in 6 1-3 innings. Florida took two out of three in Philadelphia.
He ran into trouble in the second, working around three walks before Hamels flew out to left for the final out and then escaped another jam in the fourth.
After Jayson Werth reached on an infield single, Ben Francisco followed with a ground-rule double over the center field fence that held the lead runner at third.
Robertson then struck out Juan Castro and got Carlos Ruiz to line out to short center. Cameron Maybin’s throw sailed all the way to the Marlins on-deck circle where Robertson was able to retrieve the ball. Hamels then ended the inning by grounding out.
“I was missing not by much and that was what was key,” Robertson said. “If I was just all over the place, I would’ve been a little bit different but the umpire said I was missing just a little bit. I knew I was around the zone. I was able to kind of pull it in a little bit.”
Philadelphia was surprisingly held to just a run in the last two games. The Phillies lead the majors with 78 runs scored.
“One run in 18 innings. Against that lineup? Let’s get out of town,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Who plays them here next? Someone’s going to get paid.”
Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel didn’t think the cold weather had anything to do with the team not hitting on Sunday.
“Maybe last night but not today,” Manuel said. “But that’s no excuse. Both teams had to play.”
Hamels (2-1), gave up seven hits over eight-plus innings, striking out a season-high eight and walking none. He gave up Uggla’s homer to start the second inning. The second baseman was 3 for 29 against Hamels before the home run.
“I felt good. I just went out trying to do my best and execute my pitches. The pitch to Uggla hung a little,” Hamels said. “I’ve had a lot of success with him but it’s baseball, sometimes they get you.”
Robertson allowed a leadoff single in the seventh and Shave Victorino reached first on a high throw by Hanley Ramirez that pulled first baseman Gaby Sanchez off the bag.
Reliever Burke Bandehop then got Placido Polanco and Chase Utley each to fly out to right to end the seventh. Badenhop retired the side in the eighth.
Marlins closer Leo Nunez pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in four chances.
Hamels, now 2-7 against Florida, was pulled after giving up a leadoff single to Jorge Cantu in the ninth. Cantu extended his hitting streak to 17 dating to last season — 13 this year.
Uggla’s third hit of the game, in the ninth off reliever Ryan Madson drove in Cantu to make it 2-0.
NOTES: Phillies starter Joe Blanton (strained left oblique) will make a rehab start for the Lakewood BlueClaws on Tuesday night. …. The Phillies are now 1-9 in 10 starts by Hamels against Florida. … Maybin had two hits for the Marlins.
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