Lorenzen, two Reds homers sink Marlins
CINCINNATI -- The Reds used two-run home runs from Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce to take the rubber match, 5-2, of a three-game series against the Marlins on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. Frazier's homer came in the first while Bruce broke a 2-2 ballgame with his blast to right field in the sixth.
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Right-handed rookie Michael Lorenzen (3-2, 3.56) was able to work out of a number of jams to provide seven solid innings on the mound for the Reds. Lorenzen gave up only two runs on eight hits, one walk and six strikeouts. His biggest mistake came on a solo homer by Justin Bour in the second inning.
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Sunday's outing matched Lorenzen's longest start of his career, with his only other seven-inning appearance coming on May 26 against Colorado.
"He was really great, aggressive in his arm," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I thought [catcher] Brayan [Pena] called a great game. After the first couple innings really settled into that game and made the pitches he needed to give us a chance to win the game."
Right-hander David Phelps (4-4, 4.25) held the Reds to only three hits through the first five innings, but ran into trouble in a three-run sixth inning. Phelps finished the game with five earned runs, eight hits, two walks, one hit by pitch and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. He also surrendered both Frazier and Bruce's home runs.
Things got dicey in the top of the ninth as Aroldis Chapman loaded the bases with no outs. Pinch-hitter Jeff Baker reached on a throwing error, Jeff Mathis singled and Adeiny Hechavarria walked, but Chapman was able to close it out with three straight strikeouts to pick up his 15th save of the season.
Video: MIA@CIN: Chapman fans side with bases full in the 9th
The Marlins finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base.
"You have to pick up the slack," Miami manager Dan Jennings said. "You can't count on [Giancarlo Stanton] every night. You can't count on Dee [Gordon] getting three hits every night. They're certainly getting their share of it. But the rest of us have to pick up the slack. Do the small things. Move runners over. Get runners in from third, less than two out. It's huge. We had those times today where we were unable to capitalize."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Video: MIA@CIN: Bruce blasts a two-run homer to put Reds up
Reds rough up Phelps in sixth: The Reds put together five hits for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead, and knock Phelps out of the game. Joey Votto started the rally with a leadoff single. He later scored on a two-run homer by Bruce to right field. The Reds tacked on one more run in the frame with three straight two-out singles from Marlon Byrd, Eugenio Suarez and Lorenzen, who drove in Byrd from third base.
"After those first two innings, Michael really settled down and started pitching great," Bruce said. "It was good to have some separation there and finish that series off." More >
Video: MIA@CIN: Reds throw out Gordon at home, call stands
Gamble backfires at plate: An aggressive decision with the game tied at 2 in the fifth inning was thwarted by a terrific defensive play by the Reds. With speedy Gordon on first, Derek Dietrich doubled to deep center. The ball kicked off the wall, and third-base coach Lenny Harris waved the speedy Gordon home. But the Reds executed perfectly. Billy Hamilton made a precise relay throw to Suarez who threw a strike to home plate, where Pena made the tag, denying Miami the lead.
"They just made a great play. It's part of the game," Gordon said. "Those guys, they go out there and work out, just as we do. They made a great play. That's part of it." More >
Video: MIA@CIN: Frazier hits a two-run homer in the 1st
Frazier homers in first: Frazier continued an impressive week with a two-run homer to right field in the first inning. The home run came on a 90-mph fastball from Phelps and just barely cleared the glove of Giancarlo Stanton at the wall. It was the All-Star candidate's fifth home run of the week to give him 23 on the season.
"I feel pretty good, I do," Frazier said of recent success. "Hitting a lot of home runs. I know I can hit with power … and into gaps, so I'm seeing the ball and getting under it in a good way and I just got to keep doing that." More >
Bour delivers blast: Bour entered Sunday 2-for-12 on the road trip. But after Miami fell behind 2-1 in the first inning, Bour evened the score in the second. The first baseman blasted a homer to right to lead off the inning. According to Statcast™, the drive was projected at 438 feet with an exit velocity of 110 mph. It was home run No. 6 for the left-handed hitter.
QUOTABLE
"You just hope you get the barrel out and find a hole. It's tough to gear up for that velo. Matty [Jeff Mathis] and Bake [Jeff Baker]. Both guys had great at-bats. They gave us that chance. At that point, you're just looking for a guy to find a game and hopefully get around to the top of the order. We did it. But lefty-lefty against him. It's tough." -- Jennings, on the Marlins loading bases in ninth off Chapman, who struck out three straight
MARLINS LOSE TWO REVIEWS
The Marlins issued a challenge after the Reds executed a terrific 8-4-2 sequence to get Gordon out at home plate in the fifth inning. Gordon led off with a single, and was waved home by third-base coach Lenny Harris on Dietrich's double to deep center. Hamilton played it off the wall, delivered his relay to Suarez, who threw a strike to the plate. Pena applied the tag on the head-first sliding Gordon. The review took two-minutes, 34-seconds. The play stood after the review.
Video: MIA@CIN: Umpires confirm Suarez getting Ozuna in 8th
In the eighth inning, the Marlins had a second replay review not go their way. Because Miami was out of challenges, a crew chief review was made on Marcell Ozuna's groundout to shortstop. Suarez's throw pulled first baseman Votto off the bag. But Votto tagged Ozuna. The Marlins asked if the tag indeed was applied. In one-minute, four-seconds, the call was confirmed.
WHAT'S NEXT
Marlins: The start of a nine-game homestand gets underway on Tuesday, after Miami is off on Monday. Rookie Jose Urena (1-3, 4.18) gets the three-game set with the Cardinals underway at 7 p.m. ET. St. Louis counters with Carlos Martinez (7-3, 2.80).
Reds: Following an off-day on Monday, ace Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.98) will take the mound in the three-game series opener against the Pirates on Tuesday from PNC Park. Cueto is 18-4 with 2.13 ERA in 28 starts against Pittsburgh in his career. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET.
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