MIAMI -- Phillies right fielder Hunter Pence can't explain his success against the Marlins, which continued Friday night in the series opener.

Pence's leadoff homer in the fourth inning traveled 368 feet to right field, an area of Marlins Park that not many right-handed hitters have been able to reach.

"I just see the ball, hit the ball, especially with two strikes," Pence said. "Honestly, with [Josh] Johnson throwing so hard, it's tough to time it. If you time it, he supplies the power."

Philadelphia's other run in a 6-2 ballgame came on Pence's one-out RBI single to left field in the ninth inning that scored Chase Utley.

In seven games against Miami this season, Pence has hit at a .462 (12-for-26) clip, with three dingers and seven RBIs. He attributes that success to pure coincidence.

"Throughout the season, your swing goes through days and times when you feel good and bad and it just seems either finding holes right," Pence said. "I don't even know if it's any big difference, but just one of those things."

Dubee doesn't delve into Lee's struggles

MIAMI -- A day after Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee remained winless on the season, pitching coach Rich Dubee refused to speak on the topic when asked by reporters.

Asked what was wrong with Lee, Dubee said, "I'm not going there."

Why not?

"He doesn't need anything in the paper," he said.

Is Dubee concerned?

"Yeah, I want to see him pitch better," the pitching coach said.

Easily fixable?

"I'm not going into it," he said.

But it is fixable, right?

"Does he have talent still? Yeah? Well," Dubee said.

Just a bad stretch?

"I'm not going into it," he said.

Frustrations getting into him mentally?


"I'm not going into it," Dubee said.

After giving up six runs in 4 2/3 innings in Friday night's 6-2 loss to the Marlins, Lee hasn't earned a victory since Sept. 26, 2011, in a 4-2 win over the Braves.

The 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner has allowed five or more earned runs in three consecutive starts, recording an 8.64 ERA during that span. Over his last eight starts, he has a 5.69 ERA.

Signed to a five-year, $120 million contract in December 2010, Lee is 0-5 with a 4.13 ERA this season, and the Phillies are 3-10 when he starts.

When asked if it felt like a bad dream, Lee agreed.

"I think for the whole team, it kind of has been," Lee said following Friday's 6-2 loss to Miami at Marlins Park. "We've been in last place from the start till now, so I don't think anyone is really happy with how things have gone as a group. Definitely, for me individually and as a team, I don't think anyone is really happy with how it's gone."

Horst trying to make most of another callup

MIAMI -- Phillies left-hander Jeremy Horst wants to stay in the big leagues for good this time.

The 26-year-old, who made his Major League debut last May as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, went on to pitch in 12 games and finished with a 2.93 ERA in several stints.

A non-roster invitee to Spring Training, Horst came over to the Phillies in January's Wilson Valdez trade. When Chad Qualls was designated for assignment on Thursday, Horst's contract was selected.

"I got up last year with Cincinnati for a couple of stints, and just that feeling of wanting to get back so bad, you know how to prepare and what to expect when you get there," Horst said.

Horst went 2-1 with two saves and a 2.11 ERA in 38 1/3 innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, aided by pitching coach Rod Nichols, who emphasized working in and out of the strike zone with all his pitches.

It certainly worked Friday night for Horst, who pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts in his second appearance as a Phillie. In his Philadelphia debut on Thursday against the Pirates, he also pitched a scoreless frame.

"Just going after hitters right away and being aggressive and going after guys is something that is part of the way I've always pitched," Horst said. "It worked well for me down there, and take it up here and see what happens."

As a staff, the Phillies' bullpen has struggled for consistency. It currently holds a 9-13 record and 4.54 ERA, which is 12th in the National League and 25th overall. Horst hopes to provide stability.

"Whatever that role is going to be, I'll be happy to fill it and go out there and give it a 100 percent," Horst said. "I don't want to have any excuses when I come off and should've done this. This time around, I'm going to do everything I can to stay up here and help the team win."