Field Level Media
Aug 20, 2021
Sonny Gray allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, leading the host Cincinnati Reds to a 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
Cincinnati's offense was led by Tyler Naquin, who tripled, homered and scored two runs. Joey Votto also added some pop, hitting his 28th homer of the year, a two-run shot.
Votto's homer came immediately following a hit-by-pitch on Nick Castellanos. This was the fourth straight time that a Castellanos hit-by-pitch has been followed by a Votto dinger. In his past 53 games, Votto has 20 homers and 52 RBI. In his first 41 games, he had eight homers and 29 RBIs.
Gray (5-6), who was perfect through three frames, tied his season high in innings and allowed just a single to Jazz Chisholm. Gray struck out five and walked two, lowering his ERA to 4.15. Mychal Givens pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his fourth save of the year.
Chisholm led Miami with two hits, including a three-run homer off reliever Lucas Sims.
Elieser Hernandez (0-1) took the loss in just his fifth game of the year. He lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks and five runs (four earned).
The Reds suffered two bits of bad news. Two-time Gold Glove catcher Tucker Barnhart's 161-game errorless streak ended on an interference call. In addition, Mike Moustakas went 0-for-4, and his hitless streak is now at a career-worst 25 at-bats.
Cincinnati opened the scoring with two runs in the first, a rally that started with two pulled shots. Naquin tripled down the first-base line, and Castellanos doubled down the third-base line. After a fielding error by Marlins first baseman Jesus Aguilar, Castellanos scored on Kyle Farmer's sacrifice fly.
Miami loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on the Chisholm single and two walks. But Gray got Brian Anderson on a shallow fly ball before striking out Lewis Brinson.The Reds increased their lead to 5-0 in the fifth on Naquin's solo homer (397 feet) and Votto's two-run shot, which went 432 feet.
Miami cut its deficit to 5-3 in the eighth as Alex Jackson walked, Miguel Rojas doubled and Chisholm pulled a 405-foot homer to right. It was the rookie's 14th dinger of the year.
--Field Level Media