Fernandez Pitches 7 Innings In 3-1 Win Over Reds
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MIAMI (AP) — Jose Fernandez allowed an unearned run in seven innings to help the Miami Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night to begin the final series before the All-Star break.
Christian Yelich homered and drove in two runs and Derek Dietrich also knocked in a run for the Marlins, who returned home after a 3-6 road trip.
Fernandez (11-4) struck out eight and did not walk a batter while allowing six hits. The Reds scored the unearned run with two errors committed by Marlins' outfielders.
Miami's All-Star relievers both pitched one inning, Fernando Rodney in the eighth and A.J.Ramos in the ninth for his 26th save in 27 chances.
The game took only 2 hours and 16 minutes.
The win assured the Marlins of a winning record in the first half for the first time since 2009 when they went 46-44 before the break.
Dan Straily (4-6) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings for the Reds.
Yelich's RBI double in the first gave the Marlins the lead.
Adam Duvall's single tied the game in the top of the fourth before Dietrich's base hit put the Marlins ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning.
Yelich hit a solo homer in the sixth for a 3-1 lead. It was his seventh of the season after hitting seven in 126 games last season.
MARLINS DROP FIFTH STARTER
Miami optioned starting pitcher Justin Nicolino to Triple-A New Orleans on Friday and recalled catcher Tomas Telis with the plan of going with a four-man rotation until a fifth starter would be needed on July 19, at Philadelphia.
Nicolino, who is 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA in 12 starts this season, might not get the nod against the Phillies.
"We're looking for the best alternative," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "We're not committed to Nico getting the next start. We don't have to make that decision right now."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (right elbow) made his third rehab start on Thursday and will make at least two more before returning to the big league club. "It sounds like he felt pretty good, threw the ball over the plate, gave up a few hits and a couple of runs, but that's a distant second to how he felt," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It sounds like things are getting better."
UP NEXT
Reds: LHP John Lamb (1-5, 5.43 ERA) will start Saturday's game against the Marlins after allowing eight runs over 4 1-3 innings in his last start at Washington.
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (5-5, 3.65) will take the mound looking to continue his positive stretch, which includes a 2-1 mark and 2.25 ERA over his past four starts.
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