Final
Reds slug past Marlins to take series
Aug 3, 2014 - 10:41 PM Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Devin Mesoraco went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Mike Leake turned in six strong innings as the Cincinnati Reds completed a successful series against the Miami Marlins with a 7-3 victory.Todd Frazier collected four hits, including a run-scoring single, while Billy Hamilton and Jay Bruce each finished 2-for-5 with an RBI in Cincinnati's third win of this four-game set.
"We had a chance to take all four, and at least we got out of here with three out of four and that's always a good job," said Leake (9-9), who limited the Marlins to three hits and a run while registering five strikeouts.
His Reds teammates, meanwhile, battered Jacob Turner (4-7) for five runs and nine hits in the Miami starter's four innings of work.
The result closed Cincinnati within 4 1/2 games of Milwaukee's lead atop the NL Central. The Reds entered the day four games back for the second Wild Card.
"We're still in this, we've got a chance," said Leake.
The Marlins were outhit by a 15-5 margin on the afternoon. Garrett Jones belted a two-run homer in the loss, with Jeff Mathis ending 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Turner had put together two good starts since returning to the Marlins' rotation following the All-Star break, but was never effective after the first inning in this one.
Zack Cozart got the Reds on the board with a two-out single in the second that brought in Mesoraco, and Hamilton opened the third with a base hit before swiping second and racing home on Bruce's single to left for a 2-0 lead.
Bruce later scored on a Ryan Ludwick double to extend Cincinnati's margin, which was further increased with two more two-out runs off Turner in the fourth.
After Hamilton singled up the middle to plate Kris Negron, who had drawn a leadoff walk and stole second, Bruce and Frazier delivered back-to-back hits to stake Leake to a 5-0 advantage.
"I didn't get ahead of anybody today," said Turner. "I just couldn't locate the fastball. I left too many pitches over the middle and when you're doing that in 2-0 counts, it's a tough way to pitch."
The Marlins had a chance to cut into their 3-0 deficit an inning earlier, loading the bases with none out on a Mathis double, a Leake error and a walk. Leake worked out the jam, however, getting Jordany Valdespin to bounce into a force play at the plate and fanning the dangerous Giancarlo Stanton prior to retiring Casey McGehee on a ground ball.
Miami did break through for a run in the bottom of the fourth, as Adeiny Hechavarria doubled and was sent home on a Mathis single, but didn't record another hit until Jones connected off J.J. Hoover with McGehee aboard and two down in the bottom of the eighth.
The Marlins were trailing 7-1 at the time, with Mesoraco's two-out, bases- loaded single against Sam Dyson in the sixth knocking in Cincinnati's final two runs.
Game Notes
Stanton struck out in each of his four plate appearances ... All four Cincinnati starters during the series (Leake, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Homer Bailey) allowed one run while pitching at least six innings ... Mathis started behind the plate for a second straight game in place of Jarrod Saltalamacchia (back) ... The Marlins have lost seven straight home games started by Turner.
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