Xavier Edwards went 2-for-3 and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the visiting Miami Marlins salvaged one win from the three-game weekend series with a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds Sunday.
The Marlins snapped a five-game skid and won for just the third time in 13 games.
A.J. Puk (3-8) retired the final batter of the seventh inning and pitched an inning of relief for the win. Tanner Scott recorded the final four outs for the Marlins to register his 14th save in 16 chances.
Elly De La Cruz belted his team-leading 17th homer for the Reds, who finished their 10-game homestand with a 5-5 mark after an 0-3 start.
Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo and Miami starter Trevor Rogers engaged in a classic pitcher’s duel in the first four innings, with each lefty retiring the first nine batters they faced.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was the first baserunner to reach for either team when he walked on a 3-2 pitch to open the fourth.
But Lodolo induced a ground ball double play started by Elly De La Cruz. Josh Bell then flew out to deep center to keep the game scoreless and hitless.
The Reds then opened their half of the fourth in similar fashion when Jonathan India worked a walk. De La Cruz then followed with a walk, but De La Cruz was picked off, Jeimer Candelario flied out, and Tyler Stephenson struck out.
The Marlins collected the first hit of the game in the fifth when Jesus Sanchez followed a one-out walk to Xavier Edwards with a single to left. A throwing error from Steer allowed Sanchez to reach second. Jonah Bride then singled to center to score two and give Miami a 2-0 lead.
Lodolo, who was in his second start back from the injured list with a blister on his throwing hand, looked down at his left hand on several occasions and threw 31 pitches while recording just two outs in the fifth.
The Reds finally broke through against Rogers in the sixth when Jonathan India doubled to left-center with one out. On the next pitch, De La Cruz belted his opposite field drive to the right-center field seats on a 91 mph fastball to tie the game, 2-2.
The Marlins started the game-winning rally in the eighth off reliever Fernando Cruz (3-7) when Jake Burger doubled to left with two outs. Edwards followed with a single to center that scored Burger from second for a 3-2 Miami lead.
–Field Level Media