India’s first career grand slam helps Reds beat Marlins 11-2
Jul 25, 2022, 7:18 AM | Updated: 8:36 pm
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Nick Senzel (15) celebrates with left fielder Tommy Pham (28) and right fielder Stuart Fairchild (57) after defeating the Miami Marlins in a baseball game Monday, July 25, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jonathan India hit his first career grand slam and Brandon Drury connected for a three-run shot, helping the Cincinnati Reds pound the banged-up Miami Marlins 11-2 on Monday night.
India and Donovan Solano each had three hits as last-place Cincinnati improved to 9-4 in its last 13 games. Since starting the season 3-22, the Reds have gone 34-36.
“India and Drury are a big part of our success all the time but without the home runs tonight, it’s a totally different game,” manager David Bell said. “Solano, he’s very steady. He knows exactly what he’s doing. No situation is too big for him. We missed him at the beginning of the year.”
India returned to the lineup as the designated hitter after he was scratched ahead of Sunday’s 6-3 victory over St. Louis because of a bruised left thigh. He got hurt on a headfirst slide on Saturday.
“The longer you play the better you’re going to get in this game,” India said. “The more games I log the more I get going. Hopefully, that’s a sign. I’m ready. I feel good right now.”
Miami had 15 players on its injured list, hurting its chances for staying in the NL wild-card race. The Marlins dropped to 3-12 against the Reds since 2019.
Cincinnati rookie Nick Lodolo (3-3) struck out a career-high nine over six innings. The left-hander allowed two unearned runs and five hits.
“I worked on just throwing down the middle and let my stuff work,” Lodolo said. “I just tried filling up the strike zone, throwing everything middle and let it play.”
The Marlins loaded the bases with none out in the third and failed to score. Jesús Aguilar struck out swinging before Avisaíl García lined to first baseman Joey Votto, who caught Miguel Rojas off second to complete an inning-ending double play.
The Reds then went ahead to stay with three runs in the bottom half. Kyle Farmer singled in Drury and Solano doubled home two more.
Drury, who could be on the move ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, hit his 19th homer in the fourth — a two-out drive to left against Trevor Rogers that made it 6-2.
Rogers “seemed to be in trouble all night,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly. “He just wasn’t able to put anybody away. We want to stay positive with him, but you want to see results.”
Rogers (4-10) was charged with six runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. He was emotional after the game and requested a few minutes to compose himself before speaking with reporters.
“This definitely wasn’t my plan for the second half of the season,” said Rogers, last year’s runner up to India for NL Rookie of the Year. “Super frustrated right now. That’s what big league hitters do, they adjust. I have to do my part and adjust back. Just trying to stay mentally tough.”
India went deep in the fifth. It was India’s sixth homer this season. A triple shy of the cycle, he lined out to left in his final at-bat in the seventh.
“Of course I thought about a cycle that whole at-bat,” India said. “I had one in high school.”
Marlins second baseman Willians Astudillo took over on the mound in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning with a walk.
TOP PICK SIGNED
Cam Collier, the Reds’ top pick and 18th overall selection in the 2022 first-year player draft, confirmed on his Instagram account that he has signed with the team. The 17-year-old third baseman is the son of former major leaguer Lou Collier.
TRAINERS ROOM
Marlins: RHP Max Meyer, placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with a right elbow sprain, is awaiting the results of an MRI he had Monday morning. … LHP Jesus Luzardo (left forearm strain) is expected to throw five innings and 75 pitches at Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday. … RHP Zach Popp left in the fifth with a blister underneath his fingernail.
UP NEXT
Hard-throwing rookie Hunter Greene (3-11, 5.78 ERA) makes his 19th start for Cincinnati. Greene leads the majors with 23 home runs allowed. Pablo López (6-5, 3.14 ERA) pitches Tuesday night for Miami. López is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA in two career starts against Cincinnati, both in 2019.
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