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Freel's home run reels Reds past Marlins

Jul 20, 2007 - 5:50 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Florida Marlins' relievers were able to get off the hook in the seventh inning. They weren't as lucky an inning later.

Ryan Freel blasted a three-run homer in the eighth to propel the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 victory over the Marlins on Thursday.

With Florida nursing a 5-3 lead in the seventh, Taylor Tankersley and Justin Miller defused a bases-loaded, none-out jam with a pair of strikeouts and a harmless flyout.

The Reds quickly put runners on the corners in the eighth, and against Armando Benitez, they responded in a big way.

Norris Hopper's single to right plated Javier Valentin to halve the deficit. After Jeff Keppinger's sacrifice put two runners in scoring position, Freel belted his third home run of the season to give the Reds their fourth straight win.

"I hit it good," Freel said. "I didn't know where I hit. I actually saw the ball today as opposed to the last three months. I have just been closing my eyes and swinging."

Benitez (2-5) allowed four runs and four hits in one inning, blowing his fourth save opportunity of the season.

"We've got to get through the eighth inning with him," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Todd Coffey (2-1) picked up the win by pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings and David Weathers worked around a walk in the ninth to notch his 19th save for Cincinnati, which improved to 10-4 under interim manager Pete Mackanin.

The Reds got out of the blocks quickly as Adam Dunn's RBI double highlighted a three-run first inning. Florida right fielder Jeremy Hermida lost the ball in the sun and was charged with an error, allowing Scott Hatteberg and Brandon Phillips to score.

Valentin plated Dunn with a double to cap the rally.

The Marlins got back a run in the second, when Hanley Ramirez singled home Miguel Olivo. Florida's catcher tied the game in the fourth with a two-run homer, and Dan Uggla's double to left-center later in the frame put the Marlins ahead, 4-3.

In the fifth, Josh Willingham blasted a solo home run, his 15th of the season, for a two-run advantage.

That effectively ended the evening for Cincinnati starter Matt Belisle, who allowed five runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Florida starter Sergio Mitre overcame a sluggish start to reach the sixth inning for the sixth consecutive outing. He yielded three runs and nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk but did not factor in the decision.

"I wasn't as effective today," Mitre said. "It was pretty much a battle, but fortunately a lot of hard hit balls were hit at people."