Late eruption propels Marlins to series win over Reds

Field Level Media|published: Sun 16th August, 17:02 2026

Aug 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) tags Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) out at second on a steal in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Miami Marlins scored seven times over the final two innings to take the rubber match of a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Sunday.

Reds starter Nick Lodolo held Miami scoreless on three hits and two walks and struck out a pair in five innings.

Starter Eury Perez went six frames for the Marlins, limiting Cincinnati to two hits while walking five and fanning five in six innings. Josh Ekness (1-1) got the Reds out in order in the seventh to earn the win, Miami's sixth in its last eight games.

Leading 2-1 after eight, the Marlins broke the game open in the ninth. After Otto Lopez drew a two-out walk and Heriberto Hernandez was struck by a fastball on his right hand, Agustin Ramirez doubled to push Miami's lead to 4-1.

Xavier Edwards followed with another walk, then Javier Sanoja homered to left to extend it to 7-1.

Hernandez gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth against Tejay Antone (2-2), lifting a sweeper over the left field wall.

Antone then walked in a run with the bases loaded. Ramirez reached on a throwing error from Elly De La Cruz, Edwards singled and Sanoja walked before Griffin Conine drew a pinch-hit walk to make it 2-0.

Tyler Stephenson cut it to 2-1 with a homer in the bottom half of the frame, belting a first-pitch fastball to center field.

Both offenses struggled to generate much through six innings. Miami had three hits, all singles, through the first two innings and didn't get a fourth hit until the seventh.

Cincinnati didn't get its first hit until the third when Jose Trevino lined a single to left field. He picked up the Reds' second hit two innings later, again a single.

The hosts came closest to threatening in the fourth and fifth. With two outs in the fourth, Perez walked JJ Bleday and Eugenio Suarez in consecutive at-bats but Michael Toglia struck out to strand the runners.

Then in the fifth, after Trevino's base hit with one out, Ke'Bryan Hayes drew a two-out walk but Perez got Elly De La Cruz to ground into a forceout.

--Field Level Media