MIAMI (AP) — Homer Bailey pitched a six-hitter to earn his first victory since April 5, and the Cincinnati Reds extended their winning streak to four games by beating the Miami Marlins 6-2 Tuesday night.
Xavier Paul hit a three-run double for the Reds, who took advantage of consecutive bases-loaded walks by Ricky Nolasco. Brandon Phillips, who began the night tied for the NL lead in RBIs, drove in two runs.
Bailey (2-3), who threw a career-high 125 pitches, tied his major league best with 10 strikeouts and walked none in his fourth complete game. He retired the final eight batters, and his last pitch was a 97 mph fastball.
The right-hander, who has had spotty run support this season, lowered his ERA at night to 1.80. His ERA in three daytime starts is 7.16.
The Reds climbed a season-best seven games above .500 as they began a nine-game trip. The Marlins, who have the NL’s worst record, lost their third game in a row and fell to 5-12 at home.
A brief, uncharacteristic bout of wildness proved costly for Nolasco (2-5), who gave up six runs in five innings. He hit a batter with a pitch and walked two — both with the bases loaded.
Joey Votto drove in a run and had three hits to hike his average to .322. Ryan Hanigan added two hits to raise his average to .149.
Miami batted rookies Derek Dietrich and Marcell Ozuna third and fourth. The strategy failed to jump-start an offense ranked last in the majors in runs, batting average and homers.
The Marlins have totaled three runs in Nolasco’s past three starts.
Cincinnati broke the game open by scoring five runs in the second inning, all with two outs. Nolasco hit Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch and, after the Reds loaded the bases, walked Votto and Phillips to force in runs.
Nolasco then grooved a 3-1 pitch to Paul, who hit a three-run double that put Cincinnati ahead 6-1.
Phillips singled home a run in the first after Zack Cozart doubled and went to third on a single by Votto. Miami also scored in the first when Juan Pierre led off with a double and came home on a single by Dietrich.
NOTES: With a temperature of 77 degrees at game time, the retractable roof was open for the ninth time this season. It was open only eight times last year. … Reds OF Chris Heisey, who is on the disabled list, aggravated a strained right hamstring Monday playing for Double-A Pensacola. His projected date to rejoin the team was pushed back to next week. … Cincinnati LHP Manny Parra, on the DL with a strained left pectoral muscle, began a rehab assignment Monday with Pensacola and threw one scoreless inning. … The Reds flipped RHP Mat Latos and LHP Tony Cingrani in the rotation to give the latter extra rest as he deals with shoulder soreness. Latos will now start the series finale Thursday, and Cingrani will pitch Friday in Philadelphia. … Reds RF Jay Bruce, who had played in every game, was given the night off. … The Marlins began the homestand averaging 18,865 fans per game, which ranked ahead of three other teams: Oakland, Tampa Bay and Cleveland.
