PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Romano says his right arm felt the best it had in a long time — the two-time All-Star closer even hit 99.8 mph on a four-seam fastball.
The Marlins just hit him — rocked him, actually — much, much harder.
The Phillies' eight-inning rout turned close in the ninth once Romano was summoned to close out an 11-4 lead. Dane Myers instead hit a three-run homer, Graham Pauley added an RBI double and Liam Hicks added a two-run shot — his first big-league homer — and suddenly it was 11-10.
Romano, already in the midst of a rough first season in Philly, was heavily booed Saturday as he trudged off the mound.