Reds ignite in extras, shattering Alcantara's shutout bid and stealing victory from the Marlins. McLain and Stewart led the late-game surge.
MIAMI — The Cincinnati Reds tied the game in the ninth inning and ambushed the Miami Marlins with four runs in the 10th to win 6-3 on Tuesday.
Sandy Alcantara finished the game with two earned runs (his first of the season) on three hits, two walks and six strikeouts through 8.1 innings pitched. Rather than let the former Cy Young Award winner throw past 100 pitches and continue battling to keep his season-opening scoreless streak intact, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough opted to send in Anthony Bender to complete the shutout.
“I feel like I deserve to be asked how I feel before getting taken out of the game,” Alcantara said after the game, “At 95 pitches and a righty on deck, but I respect the decision.”
Bender was charged with the blown save and Calvin Faucher took the loss after giving up four runs with only one out.
A double by Matt McLain and a walk from Elly De La Cruz set up the matchup between Bender and Sal Stewart, a Miami native playing in his hometown for the first time in his young big-league career. After the Reds executed a double steal, the 22-year-old first baseman hit a sacrifice fly to score McLain and advance De La Cruz to third base; he later scored on a wild pitch to turn what was once a shutout into a 2-2 tie.
Nathaniel Lowe gave the Reds their first lead of the game on an RBI single to center field. Former Marlins outfielder Dane Myers entered the game as a pinch runner and scored on a two-run double by McLain. The Reds scored one more run on a ground out.
Graham Pauley grounded into a double play but the ghost runner scored for Miami’s final run of the game. The Marlins scored their first two runs of the game on ground outs by Otto Lopez and Heriberto Hernandez in the fourth.
Jakob Marsee led the Marlins (6-5) at the plate with two hits, including a bunt single. He also stole four bases and scored two runs.
Cincinnati (8-3) starter Andrew Abbott threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Reds closer Emilio Pagán earned the win after a hitless ninth inning of work in which he struck out two batters.
Wednesday’s starter, Eury Pérez (0-1, 5.73 ERA), and the Marlins will look to rebound against the Reds and Brady Singer (0-0, 5.00 ERA).
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