Miami grabbed a lead in the 4th inning, but Cincinnati stormed back in the 5th inning on a Jake Fraley 3-run homer. The Marlins would rally to take the lead in the 7th, but the Reds rallied in the top of the 8th to take the lead back and held on for a 6-5 win as they used every last fume that they had in the bullpen’s gas tank on Saturday.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (18-21) |
6 | 8 | 0 |
| Miami Marlins (19-21) |
5 | 9 | 0 |
| W: Gibaut (3-0) L: Alcantara (1-4) SV: Diaz (9) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Derek Law started the game for the Reds and got four outs before a walk to Peyton Burdick after a poor call on what should have been strike three ended his day. Levi Stoudt, who was just recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Louisville, entered the game. He would get Jean Segura to fly out, but walked Yuli Gurriel to put two men on. Stoudt got out of the jam with a ground out to keep the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the 4th, Stoudt got into trouble when Bryan De La Cruz singled with one out and Jean Segura walked with two outs to put two men on base for Miami. Yuli Gurriel then came through with an RBI single to make it 1-0 for the Marlins. Cincinnati had the rookie’s back in the top of the next inning. Jose Barrero doubled and Curt Casali walked before Jake Fraley hit a 3-run homer – his third home run in the last 24 hours – to give the Reds the lead.
Levi Stoudt returned for the bottom of the 5th. After getting Joey Wendle to fly out he walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. That would be the end of his day as the Reds called on Buck Farmer to take over. Chisholm Jr. would steal second base, but Farmer got a pop up and a line out to keep the 2-run lead intact. Farmer wasn’t as lucky in the bottom of the 6th as Bryan De La Cruz led off with a homer to cut the lead to one. He would get the next two batters out, but he’d walk Yuli Gurriel, which led to the end of his outing and Lucas Sims entering the game. He needed just one pitch to end the inning.
When the 7th inning began Ian Gibaut was on the mound despite Sims throwing just one pitch. Shortly after that the game was tied up as Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a 1-out, game tying solo home run. Jorge Soler followed up with a single and Bryan De La Cruz walked with two outs. Derek Johnson then took a stroll out to the mound to talk things over with Curt Casali and Gibaut. The talk didn’t work as Peyton Burdick singled into left field to bring in the go-ahead run, but Jake Fraley threw out the runner at third to end the inning.
Jonathan India walked to start the top of the 8th and then he stole second base. Jake Fraley, who you may as well rename Clutch Fraley at this point, hit a chopper through the infield right by the second baseman and into right field as India raced around to score and tie the game up. Fraley then stole second base to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. After Sandy Alcantara struck out Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson it brought up Henry Ramos, and the outfielder came through as he doubled off of the wall to plate Fraley and put the Reds up 5-4. Jazz Chisholm Jr. collided with the wall on the play and had to exit the game, liming off of the field after being down for several minutes.
When the game resumed the Marlins brought Matt Barnes in from the bullpen to replace Alcantara. The Reds also sent Wil Myers in to run for Henry Ramos at second base. Stuart Fairchild welcomed Barnes to the game by lining a single into center to bring Myers in to make it 6-4.
Casey Legumina took over on the mound for the Reds in the bottom of the 8th inning. Jean Segura singled to lead off the inning. Yuli Gurriel hit a comebacker that hit Legumina in the leg, but he fielded the ball and got Gurriel out at first. Following the play Legumina limped off of the field with the help of the trainer and Cincinnati had to go to the bullpen.
David Bell opted to go with closer Alexis Diaz with the hopes that he could get the final five outs of the game. Jacob Stallings flared one down the right field line that Spencer Steer ran down and made an over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory to record the second out of the inning. Diaz would strike out Joey Wendle to end the inning and strand the runner on second.
After the Reds went down in order in the top of the 9th it was Alexis Diaz back out there to go after the Marlins top of the order. He struck out Garrett Hampson to start the inning off, but walked Jorge Soler after an 8-pitch battle. Luis Arraez took the first pitch he saw and lined a double into right field to bring Soler around the bases to cut the Reds lead to 6-5. Bryan De La Cruz would follow up with a walk, putting the winning run on base.
David Bell took a walk to the mound and after some discussion, Diaz remained in the game. Peyton Burdick flew out to shallow right field for the second out of the inning. That brought Jean Segura to the plate and he would walk on five pitches to load the bases. Yuli Gurriel then began his at-bat with a pitch clock violation before a swinging strike put Diaz up 0-2. Gurriel then fouled off the next two pitches before Diaz fired a 95.1 MPH fastball by him to strand the bases loaded and pick up his 9th save of the season. The win guaranteed Cincinnati a series victory and gives them a chance to sweep the series on Sunday.
Key Moment of the Game
Alexis Diaz striking out Yuli Gurriel with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Notes Worth Noting
The loss was the first of the season for the Marlins in a 1-run game. They had been 12-0 in 1-run games to begin the year.
Alexis Diaz allowed a run for the first time since April 8th.
Jake Fraley is hitting .370/.433/.741 in May.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Miami Marlins
Sunday May 14th, 1:40pm ET
Luke Weaver (1-2, 7.36 ERA) vs Braxton Garrett (1-2, 5.97 ERA)
