The Marlins will head into the All-Star break on a mini-roll, while the Reds are likely grateful for the chance to get away and regroup.
A 7-3 victory at Marlins Park on Sunday afternoon gave Miami a three-game series sweep to conclude the first half. It was the Marlins’ first series sweep of the Reds since 2003, and their first sweep of them at home since 1996. It wasn’t a pretty win, but Miami had timely hitting and capitalized on Cincinnati’s mistakes.
With the win, the Marlins are now 47-41, the second-best record entering the All-Star break in franchise history. They were 50-36 at the break in 1997, the same year they won their first World Series.
“I’m happy,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I’ll just make sure our guys don’t think we’re satisfied. We’re in a good spot. We’re still six back. That’s the way we look at it. We just gotta keep going.”
Cincinnati had a 3-2 lead in the fifth for rookie Cody Reed when Giancarlo Stanton crushed a two-run homer to left field. In a three-run sixth, J.T. Realmuto hit a RBI single and beat a pitchout to steal second, then also swiped third. Christian Yelich’s RBI single and Billy Hamilton’s errant throw to third base on the play added two runs.
Tom Koehler started for the Marlins, but he left after four innings, allowing three runs and seven hits, while lefty Mike Dunn pitched a scoreless fifth for the win. Reed was lifted after 4 2/3 innings, finishing with four runs (three earned) allowed, two walks and seven strikeouts. One of the two runs he allowed in the second inning came on a passed ball that scored Adeiny Hechavarria.
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