Marlins 5, Reds 0
CINCINNATI -- Justin Nicolino posted his first major-league victory in his debut and third baseman Derek Dietrich homered twice, lifting the Miami Marlins to a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.
The left-handed Nicolino (1-0) was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans when right-hander Tom Koehler was scratched from his start because of neck and back soreness. He allowed just four hits in seven innings.
Dietrich hit a solo homer in the fourth off Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani and added a two-run shot in the seventh off left-hander Manny Parra for his first career multi-homer game.
Dietrich went 2-for-2 with a walk, two homers and three RBIs.
DeSclafani (5-5) and Nicolino were roommates last year at Triple-A New Orleans and part of the 12-player trade between the Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012.
They dueled pitch for pitch through the first three innings before Miami (30-40) scored three runs in the fourth en route to their fifth win over Cincinnati (31-36) in the last 16 meetings.
Nicolino induced three ground-ball double plays, helping him match the longest outing in a major league debut for the Marlins since Brad Penny in 2000.
The Marlins held back Nicolino to keep him fresh in case Koehler missed time. The move paid off when Nicolino, who hadn't pitched since June 13, needed just 84 pitches to get through seven innings.
Nicolino didn't allow a hit until Marcell Ozuna stumbled in center field, allowing DeSclafani's blooper to fall in for a single leading off the third.
Cincinnati had runners on first and second with none out, but Nicolino got second baseman Brandon Phillips to ground into a double play before striking out first baseman Joey Votto to end the inning.
Miami's first hit off DeSclafani came in the fourth when Dietrich launched his 1-and-0 pitch an estimated 439 feet into the right-field seats for his second home run of the season and the first run of the game.
The Marlins pushed across three runs in the fourth, one on catcher J.T. Realmuto's RBI double to make it 3-1.
DeSclafani exited after throwing 86 pitches in five innings and allowing three runs and four hits.
NOTES: Marlins RHP Tom Koehler was scratched from Saturday's scheduled start because of neck and back pain. ... LHP Justin Nicolino made his major league debut on Saturday for Miami. He was acquired along with Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani, whom he faced on Saturday, in a 12-player deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012. ... Marlins C Johnathan Solano was designated for assignment on Saturday. Miami was carrying three catchers, with J.T. Realmuto now healthy. ... Reds manager Bryan Price expects LHP Tony Cingrani (shoulder) and RHP Raisel Iglesias (oblique) to be back by the All-Star break, barring any setbacks. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco will undergo season-ending hip surgery on June 29.