Final/14
Reds-Marlins Preview
May 4, 2009 - 1:07 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior WriterCincinnati (12-11) at Florida (14-10), 7:10 p.m. EDT
Behind some exceptional pitching, the Cincinnati Reds have gotten off to a surprisingly solid start to the season.
Now they just need their staff ace join the act.
Aaron Harang looks to put a frustrating April behind him and help the Reds continue their road success Monday night when they face the Florida Marlins, losers of three in a row.
Cincinnati (13-11) defeated Pittsburgh 5-0 on Sunday to improve to 9-4 away from Great American Ball Park. The Reds didn't win their ninth road game last season until May 24 and their 10th didn't come until June 4, in their 31st game away from Cincinnati.
Johnny Cueto led Cincinnati on Sunday, limiting the Pirates to four singles in eight dominant innings.
The Reds have pitched shutouts in three of their last four games to give them a major league-leading five. Last season, Cincinnati tied with San Diego for the fourth-fewest shutouts with six.
Harang was a part of one shutout this season despite a very inconsistent first month.
The right-hander has given up two runs over 21 innings in three of his starts, but 11 runs over 11 innings in the other two. On Tuesday against Houston, he allowed six runs and six hits in five innings of an 8-3 loss.
"I'm expecting to go out there and go seven or eight innings," Harang told the Reds' official Web site. "It's kind of tough when you go out and are trying to get as deep in the games and you can't get it done."
Despite posting a 6.98 ERA in three starts against the Marlins (14-11) last season, Harang went 2-1. Hanley Ramirez was 4-for-11 with three homers against him in 2008, while Dan Uggla was 4-for-7 with a homer and three doubles.
Florida is coming off Sunday's 6-4 loss to Chicago, its 10th defeat in 13 games after starting the season 11-1.
Although the Marlins haven't won at Dolphin Stadium since beating New York 2-1 on April 12, Ramirez and Uggla should be excited about returning home for the next four games.
Ramirez is hitting .361 with two homers and 10 RBIs in nine home contests this season, compared to .217 with no home runs and two RBIs in 13 road games. He's batting .422 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 11 career home games against the Reds.
Uggla was hitless in three at-bats Sunday to drop his road average to .179, but he has four home runs and 10 RBIs in nine games at home.
Josh Johnson (2-0, 2.60) looks to help Florida get back in the win column when he takes the ball in the opener.
Johnson gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings of a 4-3 victory over the Mets on Wednesday, but didn't get the decision.
The Marlins are 4-1 with Johnson on the mound, but the right-hander hasn't won since his second start April 12. He's been at his best at Dolphin Stadium, going 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA in three starts.
In his only appearance against the Reds on April 18, 2006, Johnson pitched three scoreless innings of relief in a 12-6 win to earn his first career victory.
- NL
FINAL 14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
FLORIDA 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
10 11 12 13 14 R H E
-- -- -- -- -- - - -
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 0 0 2 11 1
FLORIDA 0 0 0 0 1 3 14 1 (FINAL 14)
BATTERIES: CIN
May 4 11:49 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY PAUL JANISH ALLOWED RONNY PAULINO TO SCORE.
FINAL SCORE: FLORIDA 3, CINCINNATI 2
Reds 2, Marlins 3 Bot 14, 0 OutsMay 4 11:49 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
ADAM ROSALES HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING JAY BRUCE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 2
FLORIDA 2 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: A GONZALEZ (.181, 0-FOR-2)
Reds 2, Marlins 2 Top 7, 0 OutsMay 4 9:06 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RAMON HERNANDEZ SCORED BRANDON PHILLIPS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R HERNANDEZ ON FIRST, J BRUCE ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 1
FLORIDA 2 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: A ROSALES (.429, 1-FOR-2)
Reds 1, Marlins 2 Top 7, 0 OutsMay 4 9:03 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JEREMY HERMIDA SCORED HANLEY RAMIREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HERMIDA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 0
FLORIDA 2 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: C ROSS (.228, 1-FOR-2)
Reds 0, Marlins 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsMay 4 8:48 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY HANLEY RAMIREZ (3) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF AARON HARANG.
CURRENT SCORE: CINCINNATI 0, FLORIDA 1
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: J CANTU (.333, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
Reds 0, Marlins 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 4 7:28 PM
Related News
- Cincinnati Reds sign Brooks Kriske, Hernan Perez to minor league deals Dec 21
- San Francisco Giants acquire TJ Hopkins from Cincinnati Reds Dec 19
- The thing is, Jonathan India can really hit when he’s healthy Dec 18
- Colors to which the Cincinnati Reds could change their name Dec 15
- The Cincinnati Reds should sign Marcus Stroman Dec 14
- Jeimer Candelario officially signs, and the Cincinnati Reds roster Tetris begins Dec 12
- As it turns out, the Cincinnati Reds did not sign Shohei Ohtani Dec 9
- Cincinnati Reds to sign infielder Jeimer Candelario, per reports Dec 7
- The asking price for Dylan Cease is predictably absurd Dec 6
- Cincinnati Reds score 2nd overall pick in 2024 MLB Draft lottery! Dec 5
- Cincinnati Reds sign IF/OF Mark Mathias to minor league deal Dec 5
- MLB Winter Meetings News & Notes - Dodgers need a shortstop? Dec 4