Austin Wynns continued his torrid stretch at the plate and Brady Singer delivered a stellar start as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Miami Marlins 5–2 in a Wednesday afternoon matchup at loanDepot park.
Wynns fell just a triple short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a solo homer, a double, and a single. His third-inning blast off Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara (2–2) was his second homer in the last three games and part of a red-hot stretch — the veteran catcher now has nine hits in his last 11 at-bats.
Singer (4–0), making just his fifth start for the Reds, was sharp after surrendering a two-run homer to Matt Mervis in the first. He struck out eight — matching his season high — and allowed only four hits with no walks over six innings. It was a bounce-back performance that set the tone for the Reds’ bullpen, which shut the door over the final three innings.
Spencer Steer broke a 2–2 tie in the fifth with an RBI single, scoring TJ Friedl, who led off the inning with a double and later stole third — part of a busy day on the basepaths for Cincinnati. The Reds swiped four bags, including Elly De La Cruz’s MLB-leading 10th steal of the season in the eighth.
A key moment came in that eighth inning. Jeimer Candelario reached on a fielder’s choice grounder to second, allowing De La Cruz to advance and slide home safely after beating Liam Hicks’ tag at the plate. The play was challenged by Miami but ultimately upheld, giving the Reds a crucial insurance run.
Emilio Pagán worked a clean ninth for his fifth save, retiring the side on three flyouts.
For Miami, Mervis’ two-run shot in the first gave the Marlins an early lead, and Eric Wagaman extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games with a double. Alcántara went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Reds’ four stolen bases were a season high, with De La Cruz now tied for the MLB lead.
The Marlins head to Seattle for a three-game set starting Friday, with right-hander Cal Quantrill (1–2, 8.31 ERA) taking the mound. The Reds begin a road series in Colorado on Friday, sending left-hander Andrew Abbott (2–0, 1.64 ERA) to the hill.
