Graham Ashcraft pitched a career-high 8 1/3 innings, and Aristides Aquino stroked a two-run single and unleashed a 101-mph throw from right field to cut down a runner at the plate, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 win over the host Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
Ashcraft (5-2) earned his first win since June 24, allowing five hits, no walks and one unearned run. He struck out three.
Miami’s Jesus Aguilar hit a one-out double to force Ashcraft out of the game in the ninth. Closer Alexis Diaz took over and earned his fourth save by getting Lewin Diaz to fly out to center and striking out pinch hitter Jacob Stallings.
Braxton Garrett (2-5) took the loss despite tying his career high with 11 strikeouts. He allowed three hits, two walks and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Garrett struck out seven batters with his slider.
The Marlins lost starting right fielder Avisail Garcia following the second inning due to an injury to his left hamstring.
Cincinnati got to Garrett right away, scoring twice in the first.
The Reds started the rally by loading the bases with one out on Nick Senzel’s double down the third base line, Kyle Farmer’s hit-by-pitch and Joey Votto’s walk. After Donovan Solano struck out on three pitches, Aquino grounded a two-run single through the shift-created hole at second base.
Miami threatened in the second as Nick Fortes stroked a two-out double and tried to score on Jesus Sanchez’s single to right. But that’s when Aquino threw him out on the fly with his spectacular throw.
The Marlins finally got on the board in the sixth as rookie Charles Leblanc singled, raced to third on shortstop Kyle Farmer’s fielding error and scored on Miguel Rojas’ sacrifice fly.
Both teams got a runner to third in the seventh inning. Cincinnati’s threat ended with a Votto groundout on a nice play from Marlins second baseman Joey Wendle. In the bottom half of the inning, Sanchez grounded out, stranding Billy Hamilton after he had stolen third base.
That was Miami’s last best chance until the ninth.
–Field Level Media
