Eovaldi Goes 8 Innings, Marlins Top Reds 2-1
CINCINNATI (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi gave his second straight shutdown performance, holding Cincinnati to five hits over eight shutout innings, and Giancarlo Stanton hit his NL-leading 28th homer on Friday night, powering the Miami Marlins to a 2-1 victory.
The Reds fell to 8-13 since the All-Star break, a slide that has them stranded in fourth place in the NL Central.
Eovaldi (6-6) got his first victory since June 23, ending a streak of three losses and four no-decisions. He was coming off what was his best performance of the second half of the season — seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 win over the Reds last Saturday. He didn't get the decision in that one.
He threw 112 pitches, his last one clocked at 99 mph. Eovaldi walked one and struck out six while going eight innings for the second time this season.
Devin Mesoraco doubled home a run in the ninth off Steve Cishek, who then fanned Zack Cozart with two runners aboard to get his 28th save in 31 chances. Todd Frazier had three of Cincinnati's seven hits.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the sixth inning off Mike Leake (9-10) and Stanton hit a solo shot in the seventh, ending the right-hander's perfect career mark against the Marlins. Leake had been 3-0 in three starts against them with a 1.93 ERA.
Casey McGehee hit his second double of the game with one out in the sixth, and Leake walked Garrett Jones and hit Marcell Ozuna to load the bases for Saltalamacchia's run-scoring fly to center. Stanton homered with two outs in the seventh.
Cincinnati's Brayan Pena singled in the second inning, giving him a 12-game hitting streak that matches his career high. His left hamstring tightened after he reached base, and he left the game as a precaution after the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Left-hander Dan Jennings was released from a Pittsburgh hospital on Friday, a day after he was hit in the head by Jordy Mercer's line drive. After getting a scan, he was cleared to fly back to Florida. The Marlins put him on the 7-day concussion list.
Reds: Right-hander Homer Bailey had a sore jaw a day after he deflected a line drive at his head. Bailey stayed in the game and went seven innings for the 4-0 win. Aside from the sore jaw, he was fine. ... 2B Brandon Phillips took ground balls on the field before batting practice. He's recovering from a torn ligament in his left thumb.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Miami was waiting until after Friday's game to announce their starter for Saturday. ... The Marlins have won only three of their last 13 against the Reds and are 2-3 against Cincinnati this season.
Reds: Alfredo Simon (12-7) tries to get his first victory since he was selected for his first All-Star team. The right-hander is 0-4 in his last four starts with a 5.06 ERA. ... The Reds will induct Ken Griffey Jr., Dave Parker, Ron Oester and the late Jake Beckley into their Hall of Fame before the game.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
RELATED CONTENT: