Florida @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2010 ) Cincinnati 2, Florida 10
A demoralizing sweep at the hands of the rival St. Louis Cardinals knocked the Cincinnati Reds from their perch atop the National League Central. But with Mike Stanton, Josh Johnson and the streaking Florida Marlins in town, there's no time to dwell on it.
The suddenly slumping Reds try to avoid a fourth straight loss when they face the Marlins on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Cincinnati entered its crucial showdown with the Cardinals holding a two-game lead in the division, but came up small in its most important series to date. The Reds were outscored 21-8 in the three-game set, which was marred by a benches-clearing brawl.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips provided the fodder at the start of the series, saying he hated the Cardinals and calling them a bunch of whiners. But all Phillips’ comments did was spark Tuesday’s fracas and light a fire under the defending division champion Cardinals, who handed the Reds their first three-game home losing streak of the season.
Cincinnati is now trying to avoid losing four straight for the first time since being swept by Philadelphia from July 8-11.
It won’t be easy against the Marlins, who matched a season high with their fourth straight victory on Thursday. Ricky Nolasco threw six strong innings and Stanton homered for the second straight game, leading Florida to a 5-0 victory over Washington.
Stanton, the Marlins’ top prospect who made his debut on June 8, raised his average 21 points to .260 by going 8-for-12 with two homers and six RBIs in the series.
If Stanton stays hot, it will make it nearly impossible for the Cincinnati to beat Johnson (10-4, 1.97). The right-hander has given the Reds fits, going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in three starts against them.
Johnson was dominant in his lone start against Cincinnati this season, striking out 10 while allowing just one run and five hits in six innings of a 10-2 victory on April 15.
He seems to be back on track after a rare poor outing. On Saturday, Johnson allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings, but didn't receive a decision in a 5-4 win over St. Louis. Johnson bounced back nicely after allowing a season-high five runs in 5 2/3 innings against San Diego five days earlier.
He’ll be opposed by Edinson Volquez (2-1, 4.94), who is unbeaten in three career starts against Florida with a 1.80 ERA in that span, but he hasn’t faced the Marlins in two years.
In his fifth start back from Tommy John surgery, Volquez allowed one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs. He didn’t factor into the decision in the Reds’ 4-3 win on Saturday.
The two teams split a four-game series in Miami earlier this season, with the Marlins winning the final two games.