MIAMI _ Consider the Miami Marlins' corner turned.
The Marlins downed the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-2, again Tuesday at Marlins Park for their third win in a row, matching their season-best streak, and sixth in nine games. An early offensive breakout and strong relief effort was enough to overcome left-hander Justin Nicolino leaving after three innings with an injury.
The Marlins scored two runs in the second, including one on Marcell Ozuna's solo shot to left, and five runs in the third, including two on Giancarlo Stanton's long ball to right-center.
Ozuna's 13th homer of the year tied him with Stanton and Justin Bour for the team lead, but Stanton subsequently one-upped them with his 14th.
Dee Gordon went 2 for 4 with a walk, Justin Bour 2 for 2 with two walks.
Stanton also left early, replaced in the top of the sixth by Ichiro Suzuki, though there was no in-game update from the Marlins on why. His homer continued his hot stretch that seemed to begin when manager Don Mattingly slotted him into the No. 2 spot in the lineup last week in Oakland.
In seven games batting second, Stanton is hitting .414 (12 for 29) with three homers and seven RBIs.
Mattingly said before the game he didn't know why Stanton and the Marlins as a whole have played better since that lineup tweak. Miami is 5-2 with Stanton in that spot.
"I wish I knew exactly," Mattingly said. "It's probably a little bit of a different look, probably a little different feel for (Stanton). Other than that, you sometimes wonder why one thing (changes and) all of a sudden you get going, whether it's the timing of it or it's actually a different feel and different look to the lineup.
Dustin McGowan (season-high three innings) and Brian Ellington (one inning) allowed one run each. Nick Wittgren relieved Ellington, who walked the bases loaded in the eighth, and allowed only one inherited runner to score.
Nicolino exited with a left index finger contusion, suffered while bunting in the bottom of the third. He is considered day to day.
Upon reaching second base after a throwing error on his bunt, Nicolino removed his left batting glove and winced in pain. Mattingly, third-base coach Fredi Gonzlaez and head athletic trainer Dustin Luepker visited Nicolino, who stayed in the game, perhaps to not waste a pinch-runner so early in the game.
McGowan replaced Nicolino in the top of the fourth.
Before getting hurt, Nicolino appeared to be on his way to another strong start, which would have been his second in three major league tries this month. He allowed no hits and no walks in three innings, throwing only 40 pitches.
A series of injuries (and ineffectiveness) led to 10 different pitchers starting a game for the Marlins in May. Edinson Volquez missed a start with a blister, and Wei-Yin Chen (left arm fatigue) and Tom Koehler (right shoulder bursitis) remain sidelined.
With the return of lefty Jeff Locke on Thursday, right-hander Vance Worley moved to the Miami bullpen after making two starts. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday. Should the Marlins need a start in place of Nicolino for their game Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Worley would be a primary candidate.
