STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — David Buchanan will list his rookie season in the win column, even though the Philadelphia Phillies blew a lead in his final start.
Casey McGehee had three RBIs, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Miami Marlins rallied for a 6-4 victory in their home finale Thursday.
Buchanan gave up two runs in 5 1-3 innings, and the Phils carried a 4-2 lead into the seventh. But he remained without a victory in nine starts since Aug. 10, even though he allowed less than four earned runs in each of his final 16 starts.
“I hope I made a good impression, and hope I can take this momentum into spring training and earn a spot,” Buchanan said.
The right-hander finished 6-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 20 starts.
“I’m very grateful,” he said. “I feel blessed to be here. Tonight I put my head down and can say I finished my year as a big leaguer and I’m healthy, and I got better every outing. More than I can ever hope for. It’s a great experience for me, and I’m just looking forward to working on some things going into spring training next year.”
Philadelphia sewed up last place in the NL East and finished 36-45 on the road.
The Marlins rallied with four runs on five hits against Jake Diekman (5-5) in the seventh.
“Diekman was off with his control — left balls in the middle of the plate,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “As of late, his control hasn’t been as sharp.”
An error by third baseman Cody Asche allowed one run to score, and Donovan Solano’s single tied the game before McGehee put the Marlins ahead.
With Miami’s comeback, Tom Koehler (10-10) finally reached double figures in victories for the first time. He had gone winless in his six previous starts despite a 3.50 ERA.
Koehler allowed four runs in seven innings. Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth for his 39th save in 43 chances.
The victory ensured the Marlins will end a streak of three consecutive last-place seasons in the NL East. They finished 42-39 at home for their first winning record since Marlins Park opened in 2012.
Chase Utley’s single in the first inning gave the Phillies the lead. Miami scored twice in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly by McGehee and a run-scoring single by Garrett Jones.
Buchanan led off the sixth with a double for his first career extra-base hit. He took third on a single by Ben Revere and scored on Utley’s double. Domonic Brown’s two-out, two-run single put the Phillies ahead 4-2.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Utley has largely avoided needing treatment while missing only seven games at age 35. He has a chance to play in 155 games for his highest total since 2009.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerome Williams (6-7, 4.71 ERA), who hasn’t allowed an earned run in his past two starts, takes the mound for the Phillies when they open their final series of the season Friday at home against Atlanta.
Marlins: Top Miami prospect Andrew Heaney (0-3, 5.33 ERA) makes his first start since July 5 in the second game of a doubleheader Friday at Washington. RHP Jarred Cosart (4-3, 2.29 ERA) pitches for the Marlins in the first game.
ROUGH DAY, ROUGH YEAR
The Phillies’ Ryan Howard struck out four times and leads the majors with 188 strikeouts while batting only .219.
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