Fernandez leads Marlins over Reds
MIAMI -- All-Star right-hander Jose Fernandez improved to 25-1 at Marlins Park as he led the Miami Marlins to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
Fernandez, who has a 1.43 ERA in his career in his home stadium, held the Reds to six hits, no walks and one run, which was unearned. He struck out eight batters in seven innings.
Overall this season, Fernandez is 11-4 with a 2.52 ERA.
Fernandez was supported by left fielder Christian Yelich, who had two RBIs, including a solo home run in the sixth, giving Miami a 3-1 lead. Yelich also walked and scored the go-ahead run in the fourth.
On his home run, Yelich crushed a low-and-in fastball from Reds starter Dan Straily (4-6). The homer, which was Yelich's seventh of the season, was hit to center.
After Fernandez exited the game, Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless eighth, and A.J. Ramos did likewise in the ninth, earning his 26th save of the season. Ramos is second in Marlins history in most saves before the All-Star break. He also started the night tied for third in the majors in saves this season.
Miami scored first. With one out in the first, Martin Prado and Christian Yelich hit back-to-back opposite-field doubles to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Cincinnati tied the score with an unearned run in the fourth. Billy Hamilton singled and took second on a fielding error by right fielder Giancarlo Stanton. Hamilton scored on a two-out single to left by Adam Duvall, who advanced on a fielding error by Yelich.
The next batter, Brandon Phillips, singled up the middle, but Marlins second baseman Derek Dietrich kept the ball in the infield with a diving backhand stop. Dietrich then got to his feet and threw out Duvall, who tried to score from second on the play.
Miami took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Straily walked Yelich and Stanton to start the inning, and Dietrich hit a one-out RBI single.
NOTES: Marlins LHP Justin Nicolino, 0-5 with a 6.31 ERA in his past 10 major league starts, was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. Tomas Telis, a switch-hitter who was leading New Orleans with a .311 batting average, was recalled and will serve as Miami's third catcher and a pinch hitter. ... Reds RF Jay Bruce and Marlins 3B Martin Prado were back in the starting lineup after resting in Wednesday's games. ... Reds LF Adam Duvall and Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton were named to the Home Run Derby, to be held Monday in San Diego as part of the All-Star Game festivities. In the first round, Duvall will face hometown favorite Wil Myers of the San Diego Padres. Stanton will face Seattle Mariners star Robinson Cano, who won the event in 2011. ... Marlins pitchers are striking out 8.55 batters per nine innings, which is on pace to be a franchise record.