Marlins Edge Reds

The Miami Marlins edged the Reds 2-1 on a frigid, rainy night at Great American Ball Park
Aroldis Chapman threw a high fastball to Justin Ruggiano, who launched it for his second home run in as many nights.

It was Ruggiano's third home run of the season and the Marlins' fifth as a team.

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"It was a well pitched game on both sides," Dusty Baker said.  "We're playing good defense. As long as we're playing good defense and getting good pitching. We'll be Ok."

The expectations for Chapman are off the charts.  The fans and perhaps Chapman himself expect to be perfect.  "He isn't but he's close," Baker said. "He (Ruggiano) hit a high fastball which is hard to catch up to.  He hit a high fastball off Cingrani last night. Tip your cap to him.  He might be a high fastball hitter."

The Marlins' starter Kevin Slowey struggled out of the gate but the Reds couldn't finish him off.

Shin-Soo Choo tripled to lead off the game.  Joey Votto delivered Choo with a fly out to left.

Jay Bruce led off the second with a walk.  Todd Frazier followed with a single but Slowey bowed his neck.  Chris Heisey flied to left.  Ryan Hannigan grounded into a double play.  Slowey retired the next five Reds' hitters.  Bruce singled in the fourth and Reds' starter Mat Latos doubled with two outs in the fifth.

Florida scored a run in the only bad inning for Latos all night but Bruce saved the tie.

Nick Green singled.  Donovan Solano followed with a single.  Slowey moved them along with a sacrifice bunt.  Juan Pierre struck out for the second time but Placido Polanco singled to right.  Green scored but Solano was tagged out by Hanigan after he took a perfect throw from Bruce.

Polanco and Pierre are two of the three toughest batters to strike out in the National League but Latos, who struck out 10 for the sixth time in his career got Pierre three times.

Latos doesn't have a win but has pitched some strong games.  He has allowed just eight run in 26 1/3 innings for a 2.73 ERA.

"It's frustrating when the team doesn't win," Latos said. "I did the best I could to keep us in the game."

Latos has given the Reds at least six innings in each of his starts, allowing three or fewer runs in each.  He left two games with a lead that the bullpen gave up, including his last start in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Reds had one last chance in the ninth when Zack Cozart began the inning with an infield single to the hole at shortstop off Steve Chisek.  Chisek didn't fold.  He struck out Votto to end Votto's streak of reaching base.  Votto was 0-for-3 with and RBI, failing to reach base for the first time this season.

Brandon Phillips, who came into the game tied for the NL lead in RBI with 19 popped to second.  Bruce lined out to right.

Chisek earned the first save for the Marlins this year.

The Reds fell to 9-8 and the Marlins improved to 4-13.