| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
|   Cincinnati Reds  (54-54) | 3 | 7 | 0 |
|   Miami Marlins (53-55) | 1 | 5 | 2 |
|  W: Cueto (12-6)    L: Koehler (7-8)   S: Chapman (24) | |||
|  FanGraphs Win Probability |   The Worldwide Leader’s Box Score  |   Game Photos | |||
Same old, same old. The Reds get great starting pitching and the Terrible Reds Offense is nearly unwatchable.
Johnny Cueto pitched well again. Cueto gave up a first-inning home run to Giancarlo Stanton on a high, inside fastball. Other than that, he shut down the Marlins on four hits and one walk over seven innings. Cueto struck out nine. Jonathan Broxton dramatically struck Stanton out in the eighth inning with two runners on base.
With the Reds chances of winning already at 93%, Aroldis Chapman was summoned to save the game. Chapman struck out Marcell Ozuna to end it and extend his all-time record of consecutive games with a strikeout for a reliever at 46 games.
The Terrible Reds Offense is the product of a team-wide slump plus playing a bunch of awful backup players. Jack Hannahan doesn’t look any closer to getting a major league hit than I do. The Reds are playing a leadoff hitter, Billy Hamilton, who has now gone 53 at bats without taking a walk and whose OBP is stands right at .300. Zack Cozart hasn’t had an RBI in 51 plate appearances, dating back to July 11. The Reds cleanup hitter, Ryan Ludwick, hasn’t hit a home run since July 10. Todd Frazier is hitting .191/.240/.255 since the All-Star game, not counting the 0-for-3 tonight and has one extra base hit in 54 plate appearances. Chris Heisey has a wRC+ of 26 since the AS game, not counting his 0-for-4 tonight.
The one inning this wasn’t the case, sort of but not really, was the eighth. Zack Cozart hit a pop-up over the second-baseman’s head that was dropped, scored an error. Devin Mesoraco lashed a legitimate pinch-hit single into left field. Billy Hamilton’s bunt was fumbled by the Marlin’s pitcher who wanted to throw to third base but dropped the ball. With bases loaded and no one out, Kris Negron struck out. Todd Frazier then lofted a weak fly ball out to shallow right field. And Zack Cozart was thrown easily out at home attempting to score.
Except Jeff Mathis, the Marlins catcher was blocking the plate as he waited and waited for Cozart to arrive. Bryan Price immediately appealed and after a 6-minute phone call to New York, Cozart was deemed safe based on Rule 7.13. Ryan Ludwick lined a single to center and all of a sudden, the Terrible Reds Offense had produced three improbable runs.
Chris Heisey made what might be the outfield defense play of the year in the fourth inning. Heisey sprinted full speed to deep right center field and made a diving catch to rob SS Adeiny Hechavarria of a certain triple and RBI. Billy Hamilton made a nice play in the first inning throwing Casey McGehee out at home plate.
The win breaks the Reds 9-game road losing streak.