Straily went up against Fernandez in that July 8 meeting and absorbed the loss while yielding three runs and six hits in six frames. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.A throwing error by Jumbo Diaz to begin the seventh led to two runs with Martin Prado delivering a two-out, two-run single to cut Miami’s deficit to 5-4.Raisel Iglesias, whom the Reds want to look at as their future closer, pitched a flawless ninth for his second save of the season and his career.Thursday’s game certainly didn’t start the way the Marlins typically expect with Fernandez on the mound.Cincinnati had several hard-hit balls off the Miami ace before Cabrera, who owned one career home run in 130 major league at-bats, crushed a 1-0 pitch into the right-field seats for a three-run homer, putting the Reds ahead 3-0.Cincinnati scored three times, collected four hits and had two line-drive outs in the first two innings.The Reds weren’t finished.In the third, Billy Hamilton singled and later scored on a throwing error.
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Royals 6, Tigers 1 • Danny Duffy allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings and visiting Kansas City hit four homers – from Raul Mondesi, Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Mark Lowe. Of course, it’s all relative, as Fernandez is still 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 204/42 K/BB ratio. He lasted only four innings and allowed five runs. That aside, he doubled twice, scored, drove in a pair of runs, and added a stolen base in his return to the lineup after two games off, and once again showed why he’s been one of the better Reds to don the jersey over the last few generations.
After Cabrera’s surprise homer, Fernandez gave up two more runs in the third. “This is a guy who’s got good stuff”, Mattingly said. He is now 5-0 over is his last six starts and opened tonight’s game pitching five shutout innings before Marcell Ozuna’s two run home run in the sixth inning.
“We took advantage of Fernandez’ strikes early in the count, but he throws it around 100”, Price said. “I’m not quite sure. I haven’t seen the replay of the pitches, but balls kind of at the belt line and in the center of the plate are going to get hit”. “I just take batting practice and get loose”. “We’ve got to play better baseball and limit our mistakes”.
Fernandez finished with six strikeouts, pushing him over 200 for the first time in his career.
The 24-year-old is on the verge of his first 200-strikeout season with 198 in 137 2/3 total innings.
Martin Prado capitalized on an error by pitcher Jumbo Diaz with a two-run single in the seventh. He trails Kevin Brown (205, 1997) and record-holder Ryan Dempster (209, 2000). He is one homer short of matching the career high he set in 2014.
Marlins: RHP A.J. Ramos is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday. If he feels OK on Saturday, Mattingly expects to be able to activate him on Sunday. He began the night 1-3 with a 6.69 ERA in three starts and 16 relief appearances for Miami.
Reds: Problems with his patella and Achilles tendons related to last year’s knee surgery are plaguing SS Zack Cozart, who didn’t start on Thursday for the third time in the four-game series.
With Miami leading 1-0, the Reds loaded the bases with three straight two-out singles in the first.
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Pirates 4, Giants 3 • Jung-ho Kang homered in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie and lift visiting Pittsburgh. Adleman has been sidelined with a strained left oblique.
