Miami Marlins Marcell Ozuna rounds the bases with a solo home run off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, in Cincinnati.
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“I had a lot of stupid injuries”, Phillips said. “That’s kind of the way I’m taking it right now”.
Rays 15, Padres 1 • Brad Miller hit two of host Tampa Bay’s five home runs and Evan Longoria added three hits, including his 27th homer.
“It’s not too much pressure because we know we have the ability to play this game”, said Ozuna. “When I hit the ball the other way, I don’t necessarily expect it to go out, but I hit it pretty good”. That’s for sure, so I’m glad I hit it here.
The Reds would maintain that lead on the way to a second straight win.
Marlins: An MRI on Monday ruled out any Achilles tendon problems for infielder Justin Bour, according to manager Don Mattingly. “He kept the ball down, and his breaking balls were better. Obviously, he put us in position to win”. Hamilton left the game with a knee contusion. Joey Votto was then intentionally walked.
Veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips (knee) returned to the lineup on Wednesday after missing the previous two contests and delivered the key hit with a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh. “You’ve got to make a pitch”.
Phillips went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored.
Wittgren (3-2) allowed two earned runs and two hits in an inning to take the loss. “He got good wood on it”.
Josh Smith (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. His fastball played up out of the bullpen, coming in at an average of more than 95 miles per hour in 2016 as opposed to the mostly 90-91 miles per hour in past seasons, a common occurrence when a pitcher knows he can air it out for an inning as opposed to saving strength for a longer outing. Urena gave up only three hits over his final five innings.
Reds: Ex-Marlin RHP Anthony DeSclafani (6-1) is scheduled to make his second career start against his former team on Tuesday. He gave up all six Miami hits and one earned run – Ozuna’s 21st homer leading off the fourth – with one walk and six strikeouts in his first start in Cincinnati since August 7, 2014.
“He was more aggressive”, manager Don Mattingly said.
Embedded within a wet, mostly foregettable OH night was a glimpse at how the Marlins, if they are really going to make a go of it the next month and a half, will stay offensively competitive without Giancarlo Stanton.
Ozuna’s blast was the first homer allowed by Bailey in his four starts since coming off the disabled list.
“It felt good off the barrel”, he said. It wouldn’t have a home run at our place. “It didn’t come out of my hand right”.
Phillips doubled off Ozuna’s glove in deep center field to begin the fourth, then sprinted home when Eugenio Suarez followed with a double to left to tie the score 1-1.
Bailey left after five innings having thrown 96 pitches. He allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings with no walks and six strikeouts. “I need to be in the zone more to avoid those”.
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Fernandez had his last start skipped in an effort to keep his workload down in his first full season since returning from Tommy John surgery and is going for the first time since holding San Francisco to one run in six innings on August 8. He singled as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.
