Reds 1, Marlins 0
MIAMI -- Right-hander Mike Leake pitched eight scoreless innings and right fielder Jay Bruce slugged a solo home run, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night at Marlins Park.
All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth inning for his 18th save of the season. Chapman reached 103 mph with his fastball, striking out the side.
Leake (6-5), who beat the Marlins 5-0 on June 19 and had a 4-1 record and a 1.65 ERA in five career starts against the franchise entering Friday, was at his best yet again.
He did not throw harder than 91 mph but had great movement on his pitches, allowing three hits and one walk. The only extra-base hit he allowed came in the eighth, when newly acquired pinch-hitter Casey McGahee doubled off the wall in left, missing a game-tying homer by a few feet.
Leake had a potential no-hitter going until Marlins third baseman Derek Dietrich broke it up with a one-out single in the fifth. Leake threw 102 pitches, 68 for strikes.
Marlins starter David Phelps (4-5) matched Leake with nearly the same effectiveness. Phelps, a right-hander, went six innings and allowed five hits, one walk and one run. He threw 86 pitches, 62 of them for strikes.
Cincinnati (39-45) has won three of its past four games and evened the series 1-1. Miami (36-51) lost for the fifth time in its past six games.
Bruce led off the second inning with his 13th homer of the season, giving Cincinnati a 1-0 lead. He hit the first pitch he saw -- a fastball tailing inside -- and knocked it into the upper deck.
NOTES: Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani, who on Saturday had been expected to face his former team, will miss one turn in the rotation because of a gluteus injury. ... Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias will make Saturday's start. It will be Iglesias' fifth major league start. ... Miami signed 3B Casey McGahee, who was released by the Giants. He will start Saturday. ... Miami placed INF Jeff Baker (intercoastal strain) on the disabled list retroactive to July 8. ... Marlins 3B Martin Prado (right shoulder) has played two rehab games in the minors but only as a DH because it still bothers him when he throws. He hopes to return in late July. ... Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez has a career home record of 14-0 with a 1.21 ERA. On the road, he is 4-8 with a 3.93 ERA. ... Reports indicate the Giants have interest in trading for Marlins 1B Michael Morse if Miami pays a good portion of his salary.