Reds 8, Marlins 6
Rookie Yonder Alonso broke a tie with a two-run double in a four-run ninth inning in his first major league game in his hometown as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the host Florida Marlins 8-6 on Tuesday.
The Reds took an early lead behind the former University of Miami star Alonso, who hit a solo home run in the second and added an RBI single in the third for a 2-0 lead. Alonso is hitting .448 since being called up July 26.
Florida rallied to take a 6-4 lead into the ninth before Dave Sappelt hit a two-run double with one out and Alonso delivered a two-out double off closer Leo Nunez (1-4), who blew his sixth save.
Florida starter Ricky Nolasco moved past Dontrelle Willis to become the Marlins' all-time strikeout leader. He finished with eight strikeouts and has 765 for his career. Nolasco allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer for the Reds, while Emilio Bonifacio had a two-run shot and a sacrifice fly for the Marlins.
Florida, which has the second-worst home record in the majors at 24-40, has lost 14 of 17 at home and 16 of 18 overall.
The three-game series will conclude with a doubleheader starting at 4:10 p.m. ET Wednesday. The series was scheduled to run through Thursday, but the final game was pushed up a day because of the threat of heavy rains expected to accompany Hurricane Irene.