May 1, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) addresses the media before the game against the Mimai Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images RHONA WISE
MIAMI – Zack Wheeler looked excellent on the mound, and the Phillies bullpen held on for dear life Friday to earn a 6-5 series-opening victory over the Fish. With the triumph, the Phillies improve to 13-19. They are 4-0 since Don Mattingly was named interim manager.
The Marlins got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning. Initially, it appeared Otto Lopez had taken Wheeler deep to center field, but that was later overturned to a ground-rule double because replay determined it hit the wall before Justin Crawford inadvertently batted it over the fence:
Justin Crawford batted this ball over the fence after it initially hit the wall. Upon further review, Otto Lopez was given a double, not a homer.
(Via @DanielAlvarezEE) pic.twitter.com/B1WEuAFzdq
It didn't end up mattering, though, because Lopez score on an RBI double by Xaiver Edwards a batter later.
However, in Wheeler's second start since he returned from the injured list, the three-time All-Star went on to pitch six innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out eight and walking two. As Wheeler returns from both a blood clot and thoracic outlet decompression surgery, it's been a very encouraging start for someone who had a very uncertain baseball future six months ago.
Miami starter Eury Pérez dominated the first time through the order, but the Phillies did some damage in the top of the fourth inning. The first of two RBIs came from Alec Bohm, as he plated Brandon Marsh with a single into right-center field:
Alec Bohm ties the game! 🦒
(Via @Hector_Baseball) pic.twitter.com/mvy4kMEDau
Crawford followed that up with a double, scoring Bryson Stott:
Justin Crawford gives the Phillies their first lead of the night!
(@Hector_Baseball) pic.twitter.com/e1TwqKdYdI
The Phillies did miss a chance to add on further, however, with Rafael Marchán popping up to strand Crawford and Bohm in scoring position.
Marchán again had the chance to do damage in the top of the sixth inning, when he came to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out. Even if Mattingly may have wanted to give Trea Turner a full off day, it was very surprising that Marchán was allowed to hit with Turner and Felix Reyes sitting on the bench and the left-handed Cade Gibson on the mound. Marchán did work the count full, but ultimately grounded into an inning-ending double play. (On a related note, Mattingly said before the game there's "a pretty good chance" J.T. Realmuto is activated at some point during the Miami series. He's eligible to return from his IL stint, which was caused by back spasms, as soon as Saturday.)
Failing to come through in the sixth didn't come back to bite the Phillies, with Edmundo Sosa singling in Bryce Harper to give the Phillies a third run in the top of the seventh inning. The next batter, Bryon Stott, skied his first homer of the season, this one of the three-run variety, giving the Phillies a 6-1 lead:
Bryson Stott loves hitting against the Fish!
(Via @Phillies) pic.twitter.com/kE695WnTwv
For all that went well for the Phillies in the top of the seventh, Marsh did get hit on the right elbow on a 91 mph sinker from Gibson. Marsh stayed in to run the bases, but Dylan Moore replaced him in left field the next half inning. It was later announced that Marsh left with a right elbow contusion.
Things also got too close for comfort in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Marlins scored three runs off of the duo of Jonathan Bowlan and José Alvarado. All three runs were charged to Bowlan, but Alvarado needed an inning-ending strikeout of Christopher Morel to strand the tying runs in scoring position.
Brad Keller walked the leadoff batter in the ninth inning, and struggled mightily with his control for much of his outing. But after Lopez pulled the Marlins within one run on an RBI single, Keller was able to get Edwards to fly out to center field to end the game.
The two NL East clubs will continue their four-game wraparound series Saturday, with two former first-round picks set to square off as Max Meyer will oppose Andrew Painter.
