PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — On the heels of an offensive explosion, the Philadelphia Phillies proved they could win with pitching and a single, early run. Walker Buehler tossed five scoreless innings and a quartet of relievers completed the shutout as the Phillies edged the Miami Marlins 1-0 on Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park, a result that mathematically eliminated Miami from postseason contention.

In a stark contrast to Wednesday’s 11-1 victory where they set a franchise record with eight home runs, the Phillies scratched across the game’s only run in the bottom of the first inning. The win, played before a crowd of 36,265 in a brisk 2 hours and 32 minutes, improved Philadelphia’s record to 94-65 as they tune up for a first-round playoff bye. The Marlins fell to 77-82, their faint wild-card hopes extinguished.

The outcome defied the pregame projections from Interstat, which had forecast a high-scoring affair favoring Miami, 8-5. Instead, the game became a tense pitchers’ duel, with the combined one run easily staying under the posted over/under line of 9.

The Phillies’ offense, quiet for most of the night after its early breakthrough, managed seven hits to Miami’s five. The decisive sequence began with one out in the first when Harrison Bader singled to center off Marlins starter Janson Junk. After a strikeout by Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper hit a ground ball that deflected off shortstop Otto Lopez for a single, moving Bader to third. Alec Bohm then grounded out to third base, allowing Bader to cross the plate with what would stand as the winning run.

That was all the support Buehler (10-7) would require. The Phillies’ right-hander worked efficiently, scattering three hits and three walks while hitting a batter over his five innings of work. He navigated his biggest jam in the third inning. After a single by Troy Johnston and a strikeout, Buehler allowed a sharp single to Agustín Ramírez that put runners on the corners, and then walked Xavier Edwards to load the bases with two outs. He escaped unscathed by getting Liam Hicks to pop out to second baseman Bryson Stott.

Buehler handed the ball to the bullpen, which was flawless until a late rain delay. Taijuan Walker delivered two strong innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three. Matt Strahm pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out one.

Before the top of the ninth, a rain delay of one hour and one minute paused the action. When play resumed, 40-year-old veteran David Robertson took the mound. He allowed a two-out single to Johnston but ended the game by getting Graham Pauley to line out to Bader in center field, securing his second save of the season.

Junk (6-4) was the hard-luck loser for Miami, pitching effectively but succumbing to the first-inning run. He lasted 4 2/3 innings, yielding one run on five hits while striking out four. The Marlins’ bullpen was equally impressive, as five relievers—Ronny Henriquez, Josh Simpson, Cade Gibson, and Calvin Faucher—combined for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball, striking out six.

Miami’s best chance to tie the game came in the sixth inning against Walker. Edwards walked and Hicks followed with a single, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Walker calmly induced a fly out from Lopez, then struck out Griffin Conine and Connor Norby swinging to strand both runners and preserve the narrow lead.

The Marlins also threatened in the very first inning, but a controversial play snuffed out the opportunity. After Jakob Marsee led off with a walk, the Marlins attempted a hit-and-run. Agustín Ramírez struck out, and catcher J.T. Realmuto threw to second to nab Marsee. The Marlins challenged the tag play, but the call was upheld, resulting in a double play.

Bohm was the only player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 and driving in the game’s lone run. For Miami, Johnston collected two of the team’s five hits.

The victory gave the Phillies a 2-1 series win after the teams split the first two games of the set, with Miami winning in 11 innings on Tuesday before Philadelphia’s blowout on Wednesday.

Both teams now turn their attention to their final series of the regular season. The Phillies will host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game set beginning Friday, looking to build momentum for the postseason. The Marlins, now playing for pride, return home to Miami to face the New York Mets for three games to conclude their 2025 campaign.