Mammoth home runs keep Marlins hot in win over Phillies

MIAMI (AP) -- The Marlins let an early four-run lead slip away, but the bullpen held on and Giancarlo Stanton delivered in a big way.

Stanton hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Miami Marlins to a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

"The ball that Stanton hit was a laser," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "God almighty."

Stanton's 10th home run of the season was a deep shot to left-center field off Hector Neris (0-1) to give the Marlins their 11th win in their last 12 games. That has been done only other time in franchise history when they won 11 of 12 from April 6-19, 2009.

"It is fun watching them," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "When he hits them, there is no much doubt. Obviously, the timing was very good."

Kyle Barraclough (2-0) earned the win by pitching a scoreless inning in relief and David Phelps came on for the ninth for his second save.

The Marlins won seven in a row before losing 14-5 at Milwaukee on May 1 and have won the first four games of their nine-game homestand to improve their record to 16-12. It is the first time the Marlins are four games over .500 since June 2014.

"You've got to find a way to keep going," Mattingly said. "Nobody's going to feel sorry for you. It's just been nice that the guys keep playing. You have to find a way to get a win every day. And they expect to get a win every day."

Maikel Franco homered and drove in two runs, and Peter Bourjos drove in a pair for Philadelphia, who has lost four of five.

"We had 12 hits, we just didn't score more runs," Mackanin said.

Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen was spotted a 4-0 lead through two innings, but allowed four runs and 11 hits over five innings and exited with the game tied.

Miami's Christian Yelich opened the scoring with a two-run upper-deck homer to right-center field in the first inning.

"Yeli has been hitting it into the upper deck lately," Stanton said. "I think he's been doing some extra push-ups."

It was Yelich's third home run in his last four games at Marlins Park after having just three homers in previous 172 home games.

J.T. Realmuto and Martin Prado had RBI singles in the second to push the Marlins' lead to 4-0.

Philadelphia's Vince Velasquez settled down after a shaky start retiring 10 in a row at one point giving the offense time to get back in the game. Velasquez pitched six innings allowing four runs and seven hits.

"I take full responsibility of giving up the lead and allowing four runs on the board so you have to figure something out, you have to change, and do whatever you have to do to prevent that," Velasquez said. "Shutting down 10 guys was something that led me to getting the guys back in the dugout and get something going."

Franco's RBI double, Bourjos's two-run double, and Franco's solo homer evened the score at 4-apiece.

"The momentum switched pretty quick," Stanton said. "You were in total control and they come back. Usually that's when the other team keeps it going from there. It's good to put a hold on that."

Stanton's homer nearly left the ballpark with the operable wall open. The roof was also open for the third time in 13 games.

"It must carry better with the roof open," Mattingly said. "We're finding that out."

It was the first meeting between the two division foes this season. The Phillies have won each of the last six season series against the Marlins.

ZIKA VIRUS FORCES RELOCATION

It was announced before the game the May 30-31 games between Miami and Pittsburgh have been moved from Puerto Rico to Miami citing concerns about the Zika virus.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: 1B Justin Bour (left pinkie) made a pinch-hit appearance in the seventh inning and struck out after missing the previous two games. He could return to the starting lineup on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Phillies RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.88 ERA) will start Saturday's game against the Marlins. Hellickson allowed six runs in 5 1-3 innings in a 10-3 loss at St. Louis in his last start.

Marlins will start RHP Tom Koehler (2-3, 7.25) who gave up eight runs in 2 1-3 innings in his last outing - a 14-5 loss at Milwaukee.