Spencer Steer homered and Nick Lodolo delivered six shutout innings as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Miami Marlins 6-0 on Thursday afternoon, salvaging a split of their four-game series at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds (48-46) struck early when Elly De La Cruz singled for his 100th hit of the season, promptly stole second base, and scored on Austin Hays’ RBI single in the first inning. Steer added to the lead with his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning off Marlins starter Cal Quantrill to make it 2-0.
Lodolo (6-6) was sharp throughout, scattering just three hits without issuing a walk and striking out four. It was the seventh time this season the left-hander has allowed one run or fewer, helping the Reds keep pace in a tight NL Central race.
After Quantrill retired 11 straight following Steer’s homer, the Reds broke things open in the sixth. They loaded the bases with no outs, and De La Cruz drove in a run with a single before TJ Friedl dashed home on a throwing error by Marlins right fielder Dane Myers. Hays capped the rally with a two-run single, pushing the lead to 6-0 and knocking Quantrill (3-8) from the game. The Marlins right-hander ended up allowing five earned runs over five-plus innings — his roughest outing since giving up seven runs in Philadelphia on April 19.
Miami (42-50) threatened to claw back in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. But Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft induced a clutch double-play grounder from pinch-hitter Liam Hicks to end the inning and preserve the shutout.
The win helped the Reds extend an impressive streak: they have now gone 30 series without being swept to begin the season — their longest such streak since 1989.
The Marlins head to Baltimore, where RHP Edward Cabrera (3-3, 3.33 ERA) is slated to start Friday against an Orioles starter yet to be announced.
The Reds will open a series against the Colorado Rockies, with rookie RHP Chase Burns (0-1, 8.10 ERA) facing Rockies veteran Germán Márquez (3-10, 5.84 ERA).
Cincinnati keeps proving resilient, and behind Lodolo’s arm and timely hitting, they’ll look to build on Thursday’s momentum as the second half of the season rolls on.
