Stanton's homer helps Marlins complete sweep of Reds
MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton hammered a go-head, two-run homer in the fifth inning to lead the Miami Marlins to a 7-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Marlins Park.
Stanton, who has slumped for most of this season and had a batting average of .192 late last month, has still managed to close the first half with impressive power numbers: 20 homers and 50 RBIs. He is hitting .235.
The Marlins (47-41) swept the Reds (32-57) for the first time since 2003.
Miami's Mike Dunn (1-1), who set a franchise reliever record with his 369th appearance, earned the win. The previous record was held by Braden Looper.
Reds starter Cody Reed (0-4) took the loss.
Cincinnati scored one run in the first, and the Marlins had to feel fortunate it wasn't far worse. Of the first five Reds batters, there were four hard, line drives and one walk. But the only run scored was on an RBI single by Jay Bruce.
Miami took a 2-1 lead in the second. Miguel Rojas doubled to the right-field corner and scored on a one-out single to right by Adeiny Hechavarria. Bruce may have had a play at the plate, but he double-clutched before he threw, and the toss sailed.
Hechavarria took second on the throw and scored on a two-base passed ball. Catcher Tucker Barnhart appeared to get crossed up, and the ball glanced off his glove and his shin guard before rolling 30 feet into foul territory.
Miami had never previously scored on a two-base passed ball.
It was also the second time in two games that a Reds catcher has been crossed up by his pitcher, resulting in a passed ball and a run.
The Reds' fourth inning was similar to the first. The first five batters got hits, and yet Cincinnati was held to two runs. Brandon Phillips lined a two-run double that one-hopped the wall in left to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.
Barnhart then singled to center, where Marcell Ozuna charged the ball and threw out Phillips at the plate on a close play. The Reds, surprisingly, did not challenge the call.
It was the second straight game in which Ozuna threw out Phillips. On Saturday, Ozuna gunned him down at third.
After Stanton's homer gave Miami a 4-3 lead in the fifth, the Marlins added three runs the next inning. J.T. Realmuto, who is fast for a catcher, was a key part of that rally with an RBI single, two steals and a run scored.
NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon, who is serving an 80-game suspension by Major League Baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs, will begin playing minor-league contests on July 17 and is eligible to return to the majors on July 28. He is ineligible for the postseason this year. ... After Tuesday's All-Star Game, Miami will open a weekend at the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. ... Cincinnati returns home on Friday to start a six-game homestand, including a weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers. ... Coming off the All-Star break, Miami is expected to start, in order, LHP Wei-Yin Chen, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Adam Conley and RHP Jose Fernandez. The fifth spot has yet to be determined. ... The Reds will start RHP Anthony DeSclafani, LHP John Lamb, RHP Dan Straily, LHP Brandon Finnegan and LHP Cody Reed. ... Marlins 1B Justin Bour (sprained ankle) is expected to return after the break. ... While pinchi-hitting in the seventh, Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki was struck on his left knee on a pitch by Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias. Suzuki is 10 hits shy of 3,000 for his major-league career.