Joe Girardi’s Phillies managerial debut ends with loss to vexing Marlins | Rapid reaction

PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies began the 2020 season with a new manager, No. 2 starter and shortstop and started play Friday in a stadium without fans because of coronavirus precautions – the biggest change in this 60-game season.

But all the change still resulted in a familiar result – a 5-2 defeat to Miami Marlins.

In 2019, the Phillies went just 9-10 against a Marlins team that finished the season 57-105 and with a schedule this year that includes the Braves, Mets, Nationals, Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, it is important they take advantage of their opportunities against a rebuilding team.

Instead, ace Aaron Nola – on the hill for a third straight Opening Day start – made a couple mistakes in a fateful four-run sixth inning and a Phillies offense expected to be a club strength struggled.

Joe Girardi made his debut as Phillies manager in his 12th season overall leading a Major League team. He was manager of the Marlins in 2006 and the Yankees from 2008-2017, winning a World Series in 2009 over the Phillies.

With the score tied at 1 following new Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius’ solo homer in the bottom of the fifth, Nola committed a cardinal sin by walking the leadoff batter, nine-hole hitter Miguel Rojas, to start the sixth. Two batters later, Nola hung an 0-2 curveball, and Jesus Aguilar deposited the offering in the empty left-center field seats.

After former Phillie Corey Dickerson doubled, Nola was gone, replaced by Ramon Rosso, who made his major-league debut. Rosso threw two wild pitches, enabling another run to score, and allowed a two-out RBI single by Garrett Cooper as Miami went ahead, 5-1.

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ bats were relatively silent against Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, who allowed two runs – one earned – in 6 2/3 innings. Gregorius, who was 2-for-3 with a walk, scored the Phillies’ other run on a dropped fly ball in the bottom of the seventh.

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For what it’s worth, in the Phillies three exhibition games during Spring Training 2.0, they scored just three runs in their final 25 innings.

It’s only one regular season game, but in a 60-game season every game carries a little more importance.

Next: The Phillies and Marlins will play the second game of their series at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.

Zack Wheeler will make his Phillies’ debut, while the Marlins counter with Caleb Smith.

Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

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