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 three 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 for Miami.
But Lodolo induced a ground ball double play started by De La Cruz at shortstop. Josh Bell then flew out to deep center to keep the game scoreless and hitless.
The Reds opened their half of the fourth in similar fashion when Jonathan India worked a leadoff walk. De La Cruz followed with a walk but was picked off. Spencer Steer also walked after Jeimer Candelario flied out, but Tyler Stephenson struck out to end the inning.
The Marlins collected the first hit of the game in the fifth when Jesus Sanchez followed a one-out walk to Edwards with a single to left. A throwing error from Steer allowed Sanchez to reach second and Edwards to move to third. 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 India doubled to left-center with one out. On the next pitch, De La Cruz belted an 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
