All-Star Andrew Abbott Hooks Marlins For His Eighth Win

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Andrew Abbott found out he was an All-Star pitcher on Tuesday night. On Wednesday he proved his worthiness with a strong outing in the Reds 7-2 win over the Miami Marlins.

The win broke the Reds four-game losing streak put them back over .500 at 47-46. The Marlins dropped their first road game after 11 straight road wins.

The Reds struck first against Miami starter, former Cy Young winner, Sandy Alcantara. Matt McLain drew a one-out walk. Elly De La Cruz smoked one over the head of Heriberto Hernandez in left for an RBI double. Austin Hays singled to score De La Cruz. Gavin Lux singled and Tyler Stephenson drove Hays home with the third run.

All-Star starting pitcher Andrew Abbott kept the Marlins with a zero in the run column for seven innings, retiring 11 in a row between a fourth inning single by Otto Lopez in the fourth and a walk to Connor Nory in the seventh. 

The Marlins had at least one runner on in the first four innings but double play extricated Abbott from a first and second, no-out jam in the third inning.

"He started pitching inside with the cutter," Terry Francona said. "Once he did that it really opened up the plate. Then he could spin it and he locates his pitches so well."

The Reds added three more runs in the fourth inning. Stephenson walked and was forced at second by Will Benson. Noelvi Marte followed with his fourth home run of the season off the facade of the second deck in left field. TJ Friedl singled and scored on De La Cruz' second double of the game. 

Abbott cruised into the eighth inning. Nick Fortes hit a soft ground ball off the end of the bat which eluded Spencer Steer who was guarding the hole. Fortes went to second on a ground ball to McLain at second. Abbott fanned Augustin Ramirez but Herndandez broke the shutout with a ground single up the middle.

Tony Santillan ended the inning with a force play.

Abbott pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. He started the inning with a 1.99 ERA but ended with a 2.07 ERA dropping from an already stellar 2.15.

"The difference this year is less walks and less homers," Abbott said. "I would love to pitch in the All-Star game (now that he's made the team)."

It was the 13th time in his 16 starts in which he allowed one run or fewer in a game. It was his sixth quality start of the seven. His seven plus innings stint makes him two innings short of qualifying for the ERA title. A pitcher needs at least one inning per scheduled games. The Reds played it's 93 game. Abbott has 91 innings.

"We shifted the game plan to pitch them inside. We looked at their at bats and they were leaning out over the plate," Abbott said. "I went inside and they looked uncomfortable."

"I didn't do a curtain call. I'm a modest guy. I wouldn't do anything like that and probably never will."

Benson hit his eighth home run to get the run back in the bottom of the eighth.

Emilio Pagan pitched the ninth with a six run lead because he needed an inning after not being used since July 4. He got two quick outs before Pagan in no mood to walk anyone, allowed Norby's sixth home run of the season.