PHILADELPHIA — Trevor Rogers made his latest case on Tuesday night to be the Miami Marlins’ All-Star representative.
His offense did nothing to back him up until the late innings.
Rogers, the 23-year-old left-handed pitcher who should be the frontrunner for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, struck out nine and held the Philadelphia Phillies to two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings.
But even with that, the Marlins still dropped their series opener against the Phillies, 4-3, at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday to begin a six-game road trip. Miami (33-45) has now lost 10 of its last 14 games dating back to June 13.
The Marlins avoided the shutout in the eighth when Jon Berti scored on a wild pitch in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. Starling Marte grounded out to strand the other two runners.
An Adam Duvall two-run home run in the ninth cut the deficit to one, but Miami came no closer than that.
The latest loss erased another quality performance from Rogers, who very likely could be named the NL Rookie of the month for a third consecutive time to begin the season.
Rogers held the Phillies (37-40) to just two hits on Tuesday although both resulted in runs.
The first was an Andrew McCutchen RBI single in the first that scored Jean Segura, who reached on a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a Bryce Harper walk. The second was a Rhys Hoskins solo home run with two outs in the sixth against a Rogers change-up — his 99th and final pitch of the game — that leaked over the heart of the plate.
Through 16 starts this year, Rogers has a 2.14 ERA with 110 strikeouts against 32 walks in 92 1/3 innings. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his starts this season.
Rogers’ performance by month:
— April: five starts, 28 innings pitched, and a 1.29 ERA with 38 strikeouts against 10 walks and one home run allowed.
— May: six starts, 34 2/3 innings pitched, and a 2.34 ERA with 38 strikeouts against 12 walks and two home runs allowed.
— June: five starts, 29 2/3 innings pitched, and a 2.73 ERA with 34 strikeouts against 10 walks and two home runs allowed.
