Source: FanGraphs
Attendance:
Hero of the Game (Largest WPA): Chris Coghlan (.235 WPA)
Goat of the Game (Lowest WPA): Heath Bell (-.793 WPA)
Play of the Game: Jay Bruce homered to left field in the ninth inning, tying the game, (.434 WPA for the Reds)
The Carlos Zambrano and Heath Bell eras got off to rough starts on Easter Sunday. Big Z put the Marlins in an early hole, allowing three runs in the first inning. After the Fish battled back and took a 5-4 lead, Heath Bell botched his first save attempt as a Marlin. The Reds prevailed 6-5.
Zambrano started his Marlins career about where his Cubs career ended, having trouble getting outs. He allowed the first four men to reach, including issuing two free passes. A Zack Cozart RBI double highlighted a three-run frame for the home team in the first. Credit to Big Z though, he settled down and showed us why he can be a valuable asset to the team this year. He kept the team in the game, and save for a sixth inning solo home run by Jay Bruce, looked great. He didn't walk anymore batters and finished with six strikeouts in six innings pitched.The Marlins got on the board in the fourth inning, stringing a few hits together culminating with an Omar Infante RBI knock. A Logan Morrison sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Hanley Ramirez. In the seventh, it was two Marlins coming up with big hits. Chris Coghlan came off the bench to deliver a pinch hit RBI double with nobody out. After a run scoring groundout, Emilio Bonifacio gave the Fish the lead with an RBI hit to score Coghlan.
Scoreless innings by Steve Cishek and Edward Mujica put the club within touching distance of a series victory and evening up their record at 2-2. It wasn't to be, however. Heath Bell trotted into the ninth and fell behind 2-1 to Jay Bruce. His next pitch was deposited in the seats beyond right-center field. The damage wasn't done yet. Singles by Drew Stubbs and Ryan Hannigan set the Reds up and a hard hit ball by Scott Rolen was too hard for Hanley Ramirez to handle and the winning run strolled home.
The Fish should be applauded for their fight in overturning the early deficit and putting themselves in prime position to exit Cincinnati with a victory (The Marlins win expectancy topped out at 79.3% before the bottom of the ninth, and how many saves will Bell blow this year). But, this has to be viewed as a disappointing loss.The club is now at 1-3 and is headed to Philadelphia.