Derek Hill’s grand slam and Bellozo’s strong start help Marlins hold off Reds, 6-4

MIAMI– MIAMI (AP) – Derek Hill Grand Slam capped a five-run first inning and Marlins starter Valente Bellozo threw a shutout in the sixth as Miami held off a late Reds rally and beat Cincinnati 6-4 on Wednesday night, getting some revenge after being beaten twice to open the series.

Hill, claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Saturday, drove a fastball from Reds starter Andrew Abbott (9-9) 412 feet to center after Jonah Bride singled and Jesus Sanchez and Otto Lopez walked. It was the left fielder’s fourth home run of the season and his first as a Marlin.

This came after designated hitter Jake Burger opened the scoring with a 399-foot home run to centralize. He then hit a 422-foot shot to left in the fifth, for his 18th and 19th homers of the season. He has six in his last nine games.

TJ Friedl’s 396-foot Grand Slam, the first of his career, to hit the seventh off Marlins reliever Andrew Nardi, his sixth home run of the season, made the game close. Calvin Faucher picked up his second save after loading the bases on a walk, double and hit in the ninth before retiring Jeimer Candelario on a grounder to second.

Bellozo (1-1) earned his first career win, scattering five hits before exiting with two outs in the sixth. The 24-year-old, making his fourth start, struck out four and walked two.

The right-hander recovered from a loaded jam in the second by striking out Jonathan India. He held Elly De La Cruz hitless in three at-bats, striking him out twice, after the shortstop went 8-for-10 in the first two games of the series, winning two home runs and four doubles in the Reds’ 10-3 and 8-2 victories. De La Cruz finished 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and a walk in the ninth inning.

Abbott calmed down after his horrendous first, subsequently allowing just Burger’s second home run and two singles while working five innings. He struck out seven and walked three. He also gave up five runs to the Marlins last month in 3 1/3 innings.

Marlins rookie shortstop Xavier Edwards went 0 for 4, ending his streak of 23 consecutive games played. It was the second-longest active streak in the majors, behind the Phillies’ Alec Bohm, who played 24 games.

COACHES ROOM:

Reds: OF Will Benson returned after missing three games while on the paternity list. OF Joey Wiemer was acquired by Triple-A Louisville.

Marlins: C Nick Fortes was placed on the 10-day injured list after experiencing quadriceps tightness on Monday. C Jhonny Pereda was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville.

NEXT

Reds RHP Hunter Greene (8-4, 2.83) will start the fourth and final game of the series on Thursday. The Marlins will start RHP Kyle Tyler (0-2, 5.27).

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