Marlins wrap up four-game set with Reds
Posted: Thu May 15 10:52 AM
(Sports Network) - Lefty Andrew Miller can make it six straight starts without a loss tonight, when the Florida Marlins take on the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Miller, a 23-year-old native of Gainesville, Florida, was 0-2 with a no- decision through three starts as of April 12, but has since gone 3-0 with a pair of no-decisions in five outings.
He was particularly effective the last time out, tossing seven shutout innings of two-hit ball in Florida's 11-0 rout of Washington on May 10 at Nationals Park. The 6-foot-6, 210-pounder is 2-1 in four road starts this season, but has never faced the Reds in 29 career major-league appearances.
Cincinnati counters with right-hander Matt Belisle, who has struggled since returning from the disabled list in mid-April.
The 27-year-old Texan has failed to pitch more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his four starts this season, including a 12-6 loss to the New York Mets on May 10 in which he surrendered seven hits and five earned runs in five innings.
Overall, he has allowed 32 hits and 16 earned runs in 19 1/3 innings of work.
Belisle has faced the Marlins seven times in his big-league career, including four starts, and is 1-1 with a 4.81 earned run average in 24 1/3 innings.
On Wednesday, Paul Janish, making his major league debut, hit a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning as Cincinnati survived a bullpen meltdown to take a 7-6 win over the Marlins.
After Reds relievers Mike Lincoln and Francisco Cordero combined to allow six runs in the ninth inning, Jared Burton (2-1) threw a scoreless top of the 10th. Renyel Pinto (1-2) struck out Joey Votto and Edwin Encarnacion to begin the bottom half.
But David Ross and Paul Bako worked walks, while pitcher Johnny Cueto came on to pinch-run for the catcher Ross. Janish, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Wednesday to take the roster spot of shortstop Jeff Keppinger, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken kneecap.
Janish drove Pinto's third pitch into right field -- for his first MLB hit -- to drive in Cueto and propel Cincinnati to its third straight win. Jerry Hairston went 3-for-4 with a triple and double, while Adam Dunn homered and Brandon Phillips went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo threw seven shutout innings, giving up only five hits and three walks with five strikeouts, but got the no-decision for Cincinnati, which has won the first three contests of this four-game set.
Cody Ross hit a three-run homer that tied the game for Florida, whose current three-game slide comes on the heels of a seven-game win streak. Matt Treanor went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Luis Gonzalez had an RBI double.
Ricky Nolasco threw 4 2/3 innings in his start and surrendered two runs on five hits and three walks.
Cincinnati went 4-3 against the Marlins in 2007, with a 3-0 mark at Great American Ball Park. The Reds are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings in this series, including an 8-1 ledger at home.
