Sac Fly In 13th Wins It For Reds Over Marlins
CINCINNATI (AP) — Brandon Phillips had a game-ending sacrifice fly in the 13th inning, giving the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Facing Steve Cischek (1-2), Miami's seventh pitcher of the game, Shin-Soo Choo led off the 13th with an opposite-field double down the left field line, his sixth time on base in seven plate appearances — he walked three times. Zack Cozart sustained an apparent right-hand injury while trying to bunt, and pinch-hitter Cesar Izturis moved Choo to third with a fly ball to center field. Joey Votto was intentionally walked, and Phillips — on his bobblehead day — lofted the fly to center field.
Alfredo Simon (1-1) retired the Marlins in order to get the win.
Votto led off the third inning against left-hander Wade LeBlanc with a 353-foot line drive into the right field seats adjacent to the visitors' bullpen on a 2-0 pitch, giving the Reds a 1-0 lead. The homer was his second of the season and first at Great American Ball Park since June 24.
Votto lined a two-out single to right field in the fourth inning to drive in Devin Mesoraco for a 2-0 lead. Mesoraco led off with single, moved to second on Arroyo'a sacrifice and, after Choo walked, went to third on Cozart's fielder's choice to shortstop Nick Green.
The Marlins tied it i the fifth against Bronson Arroyo. Miguel Olivo led off with a double down the left field line, went to third on Donovan Solano's single and scored on Joe Mahoney's first major league hit, a single as a pinch-hitter for LeBlanc.
Juan Pierre then lined out to third baseman Todd Frazier, who caught Mahoney off first for a double play, but Placido Polanco came up with a tying double to left.
LeBlanc allowed seven hits and two runs with three walks and two strikeouts in four innings.
Arroyo, who was 1-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 14 career appearances against the Marlins coming in, allowed six hits and two runs with one walk and a season-high six strikeouts in eight innings.
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