Marlins give up 2 HRs in loss
Miami loads bases with no outs in ninth inning but fails to score
CINCINNATI — The Marlins sure had their chances. Dee Gordon got thrown out at home plate to undercut one threat, and Miami loaded the bases with no outs and came up empty in the ninth against Aroldis Chapman on Sunday, setting up a 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce hit two-run homers, helping the Reds take two of three in the series. The Reds have won 11 of their past 15 games against the Marlins.
The Marlins stranded nine runners — six of them in scoring position — in addition to making an out at the plate.
“We were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position,” manager Dan Jennings said. “We had some chances, but didn’t take advantage of them.
“Certainly in the ninth, even though they’ve got a great closer, we load the bases with none out and can’t capitalize.”
Miami loaded the bases in the ninth with an error, a hit and a walk. Chapman fanned the next three batters for his 15th save in 16 chances. It was that kind of game for Miami. Gordon opened the game with a single, stole second, advanced on Derek Dietrich’s single and scored on Stanton’s groundout, the outfielder’s major league-leading 64th RBI. Justin Bour led off the second inning with his sixth homer, tying it at 2.
The Marlins had an aggressive play turn into an out at the plate in the fifth. Gordon singled, and Dietrich followed with a double off the base of the wall in center.
Third base coach Lenny Harris sent Gordon, who slid headfirst into the plate, but was tagged out for the first out of the inning.
“It gives you a chance to take the lead,” Jennings said.
“With Dee’s speed, you’ve got to like your chances in any situation like that. I don’t fault Lenny at all for giving him a chance. We want him to be aggressive out there.”
Cincinnati’s two hottest hitters carried it in the final game.
Frazier hit a two-run homer in the first inning off David Phelps (4-4), his fifth homer in the past five games. Frazier has 23 homers, two behind Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton for the major league lead. Fifteen of his homers have come at Great American Ball Park.
Bruce’s 11th homer off a changeup in the sixth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and extended his hitting streak to five games. He’s 10 for 20 during the streak with a pair of homers.
“Just one of those things,” Phelps said. “The changeup to Bruce was the right pitch. I just left it up.”
Michael Lorenzen (3-2) went seven innings and singled home a run as he won back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. Closing In Gordon had three singles, leaving him with 104 hits. The club record for most hits in the first half of a season is 117 by Juan Pierre (2003) and Hanley Ramirez (2008). It was his 16th three-hit game of the season. He’s batting .348 on the road. Close call Chapman extended his streak of converting 52 consecutive save chances at Great American since September 2012. Trainer’s room Marlins: Gordon shook his head several times after he was tagged on the left side of the face by catcher Brayan Pena has he tried to score in the fifth. Gordon stayed in the game.
Reds: CF Billy Hamilton was hit on the top of his left foot by one of Phelps’ pitches as he tried to bunt in the second inning. He stayed in the game.
Up next
Marlins: After a day off, they open a 10-game homestand starting with St. Louis. Jose Urena (1-3) faces Carlos Martinez (7-3).