Xavier Edwards’ swinging bunt in the seventh inning was the game’s key play as the host Miami Marlins rallied past the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Tuesday night.
With a runner on second and two outs in a tie game, Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft (0-2) fielded the dribbler and threw wildly to first, allowing Otto Lopez to race home.
That gave the Marlins a 4-3 lead, and Miami’s bullpen completed a terrific performance. The Marlins got one scoreless innings apiece by Anthony Veneziano, Lake Bachar, Anthony Bender and Calvin Faucher. Bachar (1-0) earned his first major league win, and Faucher logged his second save of the season.
Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI in his second big-league game.
Cincinnati was led by Noelvi Marte, who hit a massive 431-foot solo homer. That had a 117-mph exit velocity. TJ Friedl and Jose Trevino each had two hits.
Neither starting pitcher earned a decision.
Reds starter Nick Martinez, a Miami native, allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. Martinez is 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 11 career appearances (four starts) against the Marlins.
Miami’s Edward Cabrera struck out seven batters and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in five-plus innings.
The Marlins opened the scoring in the first inning. Jesus Sanchez drew a one-out walk. One out later, Ramirez drew a walk, and Sanchez scored when Kyle Stowers — hunting a first-pitch fastball — drilled an RBI single to right.
Cabrera, after two perfect innings, gave up Marte’s homer to lead off the third. Marte swung at a 98 mph pitch and drove it well over the left field fence.
The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. With two outs and no runners on, the Reds suddenly pounced as Trevino and Friedl smacked doubles on consecutive pitches.
Cincinnati made it 3-1 in the sixth as Elly De La Cruz singled, stole second and third and scored on Jeimer Candelario’s sacrifice fly.
Miami cut its deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth as Eric Wagaman stroked a two-out single and scored on Ramirez’s 107 mph double down the left field line.
The Marlins took a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Connor Norby led off with a 370-foot, ground-rule double to right-center, and he scored on Lopez’s one-out single.
Lopez took second on the throw home and scored on Edwards’ infield hit, with help from Ashcraft’s error.
