The Cincinnati Reds look to continue to ride the record-setting hot bat of rookie Rece Hinds when they host the Miami Marlins on Saturday afternoon in the second contest of their three-game series.
Hinds, 23, continued the blazing start to his career with a grand slam and two runs scored in Cincinnati’s 7-4 win in Friday’s series opener.
Hinds has started all five games in right field since his promotion from Triple-A Louisville on Monday. Not only has he hit safely in all five, but he also became the first player in MLB history with five extra-base hits in his first two games.
On Friday, he belted his third homer in five games. He has seven extra-base hits in five games, matching four others as the most by a rookie in that stretch.
“It’s unheard of, really,” Reds manager David Bell said. “But Rece isn’t surprised. People throughout our organization aren’t really surprised. Obviously, he’s swinging the bat great and really in a groove. But he has the ability to do it. He has the talent to do it and to step right in at this level and do what he’s capable of says a lot about Rece and his preparation, what he’s gone through to get himself here.
” … Reading reports and speaking with people in our organization, I know that the staff in Triple-A did a great job of helping him prepare and get ready for this opportunity.”
Hinds is thrilled to be able to contribute right out of the chute.
“I mean, it’s awesome,” Hinds said. “I’m very grateful to be able to come up here and succeed as quickly as I did. But I’m just trying to stay humble, stay even keeled, live in the present and have fun with it.”
The Marlins, who have lost four in a row and nine of their last 11, are hoping a full night’s sleep will help them.
The club arrived in Cincinnati around 4 a.m. ET on Friday morning after a late game in Houston on Thursday night.
The first six Miami hitters struck out and the team fell behind 7-0 before a late rally came up short in the ninth inning.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker decided to keep Friday’s batting practice but said he would consider scratching the session before Saturday’s game.
“You get some of these trips, unfortunately,” Schumaker said. “Getting in at 4 o’clock isn’t ideal, but that’s part of being a big leaguer and adjusting. I think most of the guys got (enough) sleep.”
The last two Reds starters — Hunter Greene and Carson Spiers — have struck out the first six batters they faced. On Saturday, Cincinnati sends lefty Andrew Abbott (9-6, 3.06 ERA) to the mound for his 19th start of the season.
Abbott has won his last four starts and has been overpowering this month. In his two July starts, Abbott has allowed one run on six hits over 13 1/3 innings, including seven frames of three-hit shutout ball last Monday against Colorado.
Abbott will be making his first career start against Miami.
The Marlins counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (1-2, 6.84), who will be making his seventh start of the season.
Cabrera has 15 walks and 35 strikeouts across six starts (25 innings) this season. The four-year veteran has never faced the Reds.
–Field Level Media