Reds Slump In Third Straight Loss Defense Lets Game Get Out Of Hand

 

 Also  Follow Reds on https://athlonsports.com/mlb/cincinnati-reds

Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds lost for the third straight game in a 5-1 defeat at the fins of the Miami Marlins. They were held to one run in each of the losses.

It appeared that they would be held to one hit on the night as they were on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies and Zack Wheeler but Noelvi Marte and Elly De La Cruz singled in the ninth inning. 

Spencer Steer opened the fifth inning with a single but a fly out and double play were the beginning of 11 straight Reds' batters retired.

Marlins' starter Janson Junk pitched four hitless innings toe start the game but the Reds scored without a hit in the second inning to take the early lead. Junk in his fourth start and ninth appearance walked just two batters in 37 1/3 innings coming into the game.

Austin Hays drew the third walk Junk issued and advanced to second on a passed ball charged to catcher Agustin Ramirez. Hays moved to third on a wild pitch as Gavin Lux walked with no outs. Tyler Stephenson hit a sacrifice fly to right field. 

Brady Singer allowed his fifth hit of the game with one out in the fifth inning. Xavier Edwards' second hit of the game was a double down the right field line. With two outs, Ramirez doubled to right center to tie the score. Liam Hicks singled to right. Will Benson's throw made the play on Ramirez close enough to challenge but the safe call stood.

Singer pitched five innings, allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Lyon Richardson started the sixth inning. Eric Wagaman singled. He advanced to third on a short ground ball to thirdbaseman Noelvi Marte. Derek Hill hit a ground ball to Marte, who tried to cut off the run at home but threw it over the head of catcher Stephenson. Richardson backed up the play but missed Matt McLain trying to get Hill at second, who advanced to third. Hill scored on a sacrifice fly to Benson in right and the Marlins had a three-run lead.

"I went back and looked at it," Reds' manager Terry Francona said. "The runner (Wagaman) did a good job of getting in the lane. Marte just got under it (the throw) and it sailed. Richardson did a good job of backing it up but he didn't have time to move his feet and rushed it."

Brent Suter surrendered Ramirez' 14th home run of the season in the seventh to extend Miami's lead to 5-1. 

Junk left the game after six innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit. He walked two and struck out three.