Tyler Stephenson drew a go-ahead RBI walk in a wild top of the 10th inning as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the host Miami Marlins 10-4 on Thursday night.
Marlins reliever Emmanuel Ramirez (0-1) took the loss, allowing all seven Reds’ runs in the 10th and not recording an out. Five of the runs were earned as the Reds claimed the series three games to one.
Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz had a great series, going 11-for-19 with four doubles, two homers, six runs, five RBIs, two steals and two walks. De La Cruz went 3-for-5 on Thursday.
TJ Friedl went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. He had two bombs and 10 RBIs in the series.
Miami’s Vidal Brujan, making his first start in right field this year, made two outstanding catches. In the second inning, he made a full-extension diving catching on a shot by Noelvi Marte. Then, in the fifth, Brujan made a leaping catch before crashing into the wall on a drive by Jonathan India.
Neither starting pitcher earned a decision.
Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene extended his scoreless innings streak to 24 until Miami put up three runs in the third. Greene lasted six innings, allowing six hits and two walks. Armed with a 99-mph fastball, he struck out five.
Miami’s Kyle Tyler lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks and three runs.
The Reds — flashing speed and power — got to Tyler twice in the first inning.
De La Cruz singled with one out, advanced on a wild pitch and took third base when catcher Jhonny Pereda threw the ball into center field. Miami brought its infield in, but Stephenson got an RBI on a routine grounder as shortstop Xavier Edwards decided not to try to get De La Cruz at the plate.
Four pitches later, it was 2-0 as Friedl smashed a high fastball for a homer to right-center.
The Reds extended their lead to 3-0 in the third as India walked, advanced on De La Cruz’s single and scored from second on Friedl’s single.
Miami tied the score in the fourth. The Marlins loaded the bases with no outs as Jonah Bride singled, Otto Lopez walked, and Kyle Stowers was hit by a pitch. The Marlins then cashed in with Derek Hill’s RBI groundout and run-scoring singles from Brujan and Pereda.
Cincinnati loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th before Stephenson drew his walk on a pitch that appeared to hit the bottom of the strike zone. Friedl then got hit by pitch for an RBI; Spencer Steer singled in another run, and the rout was on.
