Reds Pitching Helps to Awaken Marlins Offense in 8-3 Loss

Well nobody goes 162-0, so this day was bound to come, but you always want it to come tomorrow. After a strong first three innings of his Reds career, the wheels fell off the cart for Mat Latos in the 5th inning, and he takes the loss. The Marlins was going to wake up at some point, they have too many good hitters to keep struggling, but Mat helped out by over-throwing the breaking ball, and nibbling on the corners, getting himself into trouble. The loss drops the Reds to 1-1 and into a four-way tie with Houston, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh who are all one-half game behind the Cardinals.

WHY WE LOST

The reason tonight was Ricky Nolasco. The Marlins starter was outstanding going 8 innings, giving up only 3 earned runs on six hits. He struck out six and walked none. The Reds hitters helped him out, swinging early in counts all night and only making Nolasco throw 11 pitches or less in five of those eight innings. Nolasco faced 30 batters and threw first pitch strikes to 23 of them.

THE TURNING POINT

The Reds trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Brandon Phillips reached on an error by Jose Reyes to start the inning, and Zach Cozart followed with a single to left field. This brought Joey Votto to the plate as the go-ahead run with nobody out. Votto had smacked his first home run of the season in the fourth inning, but could not repeat that feat here. Votto reached for a change-up on the outer half and rolled it to the second baseman for an easy rally killing double play. The very next half inning, the top of the 7th, Sam LeCure gave up a lead-off single to Emilio Bonifacio and Hanley Ramirez followed that with a home run to make it 6-2 Marlins. The Reds would not threaten again.

REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME

Zach Cozart wins this one hands down. Cozart went 3 for 4 with a triple and a home run, and teamed up with Brandon Phillips on a nice turn of a double play in the second inning to temporarily keep the Marlins at bay.

UP NEXT

The Reds look to take the rubber match of the opening series tomorrow. Cincinnati sends Bronson Arroyo to the mound against Carlos Zambrano for the Marlins. It is the first start of the season for each. The Reds hitters should be familiar with Zambrano from his time spent with the Cubs, so hopefully that translates into better patience at the dish.