Marshall impresses in return to mound

HOUSTON -- In a low-pressure situation and a 10-0 lead on Tuesday, the Reds were able to send lefty Sean Marshall to pitch the ninth inning for the first time since returning from the disabled list. Marshall hadn't pitched since May 20 due to a left shoulder sprain.

Marshall struck out two during his scoreless inning and threw 16 pitches, 10 for strikes.

"That felt good," Marshall said. "The [eighth] inning was going by pretty fast when I got loose. They had a couple of quick outs there. I started to rush a little bit. Then a guy got hit by a pitch. I had plenty of time to get loose. It felt like old times back out there on the mound."

True to form, Marshall made heavy use of his breaking ball.

"If I'm going to have success, that's one pitch I've got to have," Marshall said. "I was able to throw a couple of backdoor sliders and a couple of curveballs. I tried to throw a heater up, but it kind of went middle-in [to Brandon Laird]. The ump called it for a third strike."