The Cincinnati Reds are the Cleveland Browns of MLB

Strong words from Trace Fowler on the state of the Cincinnati Reds.

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Bullpen, Defense Crumble Late as Cincinnati Reds Lose Series to Miami Marlins

The Cincinnati Reds entered the eighth inning of Sunday’s game locked in a scoreless battle with the Miami Marlins. By the end of the ninth, Cincinnati had allowed seven runs in a frustrating 7-1 loss at Great American Ball Park.

The defeat dropped the Reds to 59-64 and gave the Marlins the series victory. Cincinnati managed only four hits as its bullpen and defense unraveled during the final two innings.

Nick Lodolo delivered a strong start for the Reds, matching Miami starter Eury Pérez throughout the afternoon. Lodolo held the Marlins scoreless across five innings, allowing Cincinnati to remain even despite another quiet performance from its offense. He was removed after throwing only 73 pitches.

Julian Aguiar Garcia took over in the sixth inning and provided exactly what the Reds needed. The right-hander retired all six batters he faced, completing two perfect innings and keeping the game scoreless through seven.

Miami also received an excellent performance from Pérez. The Marlins starter worked six scoreless innings while navigating five walks and preventing the Reds from producing a timely hit. Cincinnati went scoreless again in the seventh against reliever Josh Ekness.

The game changed after Tejay Antone entered for the eighth inning. Antone retired the first two Miami hitters before Heriberto Hernández launched a solo home run, giving the Marlins a 1-0 lead.

Cincinnati then had an opportunity to end the inning, but an inaccurate throw from Elly De La Cruz pulled Sal Stewart off first base. The error extended the inning and opened the door for Miami.

Antone surrendered a single and issued consecutive walks, including one with the bases loaded that increased the Marlins’ lead to 2-0. Ron Marinaccio replaced Antone and struck out Esteury Ruiz to leave the bases loaded, temporarily keeping the Reds within striking distance.

Tyler Stephenson provided Cincinnati’s only offensive highlight in the bottom of the eighth. Celebrating his 30th birthday, Stephenson came off the bench to pinch hit for Ke’Bryan Hayes and blasted a solo home run, cutting Miami’s lead to 2-1.

De La Cruz nearly tied the game later in the inning, but his deep fly ball was caught on the warning track in center field. The Reds went to the ninth trailing by only one run, but the game quickly slipped away.

Marinaccio retired the first two hitters in the ninth before losing command. He walked a batter and hit another, bringing Agustín Ramírez to the plate with two runners aboard. Ramírez doubled over Noelvi Marte in left field, driving in both runners and extending Miami’s advantage to 4-1.

Another walk followed before Javier Sanoja crushed a three-run home run, giving the Marlins a commanding 7-1 lead. Cincinnati’s defensive problems continued when the next two batters reached on errors. Marinaccio eventually escaped the inning with a strikeout, but the damage was already done.

The Reds committed three errors and their bullpen issued five walks while allowing seven runs over the final two innings. Antone was charged with the loss after allowing two runs, only one earned, in two-thirds of an inning. Marinaccio gave up five runs in 1.1 innings.

Cincinnati could not generate a response in the bottom of the ninth, completing another disappointing loss during a critical stretch of the season.

Lodolo and Garcia combined to give the Reds seven scoreless innings, but the offense, bullpen and defense failed to finish the job. What began as an impressive pitchers’ duel ended as a lopsided defeat and another missed opportunity for Cincinnati.