CINCINNATI HOLDS OFF MIAMI’S LATE SURGE FOR 8-5 VICTORY
Eternal Baseball
MIAMI – The Reds went from no-hitter anticipation to summoning their closer in the span of two innings Monday night, but held off the Marlins’ late rally for an 8-5 win on the first day of Spring Training.
Cincinnati starter Bob Ewing was spinning no-hit magic into the seventh inning, and comfortable as the Reds held a 5-0 lead over the Marlins. After retiring leadoff man Gary Sheffield on a pop fly to left, Marlins first baseman Cliff Floyd squared up a low fastball and golfed it over the head of Reds center fielder Edd Roush for a standup double that broke up the no-hit bid.
Though Ewing escaped the seventh inning without damage, he appeared to stay in the game one inning too long. The Marlins flexed their muscles in the eighth, behind two-run doubles from Gary Sheffield and Cliff Floyd, along with an RBI single from Giancarlo Stanton that cut the Reds’ lead to 7-5.
Rob Dibble came in from Cincinnati’s bullpen to end Miami’s eighth-inning rally, and Reds catcher Johnny Bench launched a solo home run to left field in the top of the ninth inning to push Cincinnati’s lead to 8-5. Reds closer Aroldis Chapman allowed just a single to Cody Ross in wrapping up the game and securing his first save.
Miami starter Jose Fernandez pitched well, but deep counts and nine scattered singles limited him to just five innings of work (5 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K). Alex Fernandez (0-1) relieved him and was no match for the Cincinnati lineup (2.1 IP, 6H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) in taking the loss. Bob Ewing (1-0) earned the win for the Reds, although his no-hit bid stretched him into trouble later on (7.2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 K).
Johnny Bench (4-4, BB, 1 R, 4 RBI, solo HR) and Edd Roush (4-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3B) led the way for Cincinnati, while Cliff Floyd (2-4, 2 RBI) was Miami’s standout – the first of his two doubles breaking up the no-hitter in the seventh inning.
Tuesday night brings game two of this pre-season opening series. Cincinnati hands the ball to left-hander Noodles Hahn while Miami counters with right-hander Josh Johnson. First pitch from Marlins Park is at 7:05 PM EST.
Photo credit: Marlins Park Miami Marlins Panorama by David Aughinbaugh II
Recent Comments