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Reds try to stay hot against slumping Marlins

Aug 2, 2014 - 3:10 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Go ahead and change their name to the Miami Slump- Killers.

The Cincinnati Reds aim to continue their escape from a prolonged funk on Saturday night when they visit Marlins Park for the third of four scheduled games with the Miami Marlins.

The Reds have beaten Miami seven straight times after a win in Friday's second game. They entered the series having dropped 10 of 12 games since he All-Star break, but have responded with consecutive wins for the first time since early July.

They've won six straight games at Marlins Park, and nine of 10 against Miami. Friday's win, which saw it score five runs, was Cincinnati's highest-scoring game since the break.

Miami, meanwhile, has lost three straight after a six-game win streak and a 9-1 run.

Giancarlo Stanton homered for the third straight game on Friday and has 26 for the season for the Marlins.

"He's swinging the bat," manager Mike Redmond said. "We just have got to get a couple other guys in front of him on base consistently and get some other guys to get some big hits. We've been pretty quiet the last couple of days."

The Reds send Homer Bailey to the mound in search of more of a return than he's gotten during the team's prolonged slump. He's managed just one win in more than a month -- on June 29 at San Francisco -- and Cincinnati has lost his last four starts though he's posted a 2.67 earned run average in those games.

In his last outing, on Monday, he allowed a run and five hits in eight innings of a game the Reds lost, 2-1, to Arizona in 15 innings. Cincinnati batters struck out 18 times in that game, and the Reds have scored just eight runs in his last four appearances.

"There is a lot of heart on this club. We just kind of have to keep believing," Bailey said. "It's not just the hitters, not the defense, not the pitching. Either we're going to have to find a way or we're going to be going home early."

Last time he pitched in Miami, Bailey allowed six hits and struck out 10 in a complete-game victory in May 2013. He's started against Miami six times and is 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA.

The Marlins counter with righty Nathan Eovaldi, who's never faced the Reds.

He's been battered around lately, going 0-2 in his three most recent starts with a 9.92 ERA, and posting a 6.41 ERA in his last nine outings while winning only one.

In a Monday meeting with Washington, he got a no-decision after giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings. The Marlins trailed the game, 6-0, before rallying for a 7-6 win.

In his last five turns in Miami, Eovaldi is 0-2 with a 9.67 ERA.

On Friday, Mat Latos pitched seven strong innings, Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run double and the Reds beat the Marlins, 5-2. Ludwick's hit came in a three-run sixth inning that knocked Jarred Cosart out of the game in his Marlins debut.

Latos (3-3) picked up his first win in four starts after allowing just one run on five hits and four walks in seven innings. He struck out five. Closer Aroldis Chapman worked around a single, getting an inning-ending double play.

Cosart (0-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings a day after he was acquired in a six-player deal with Houston ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline. He gave up four runs on four hits and two walks but also got his first major-league hit.

Cincinnati won six of its seven meetings with the Marlins last season.