Marlins top Reds 4-2 for second straight win

The Miami Marlins are heating up again as the All-Star break nears.  After knocking off the Reds 3-1 Friday night, the Fish handled the Reds 4-2 early on Saturday evening behind Martin Prado's two doubles.

The Marlins got going in the first inning on a passed ball that scored J.T. Realmuto from third after Prado doubled with the help of some sloppy defense by the Reds.  All-Star Adam Duvall crushed a solo home run to tie it in the second, his 23rd homer on the season.

The scoreboard wouldn't change until the fourth when Brandon Phillips, nursing that hairline fracture he sustained in his left hand during last night's game, smacked one towards Giancarlo Stanton.  But his throw wasn't far enough to cut off Jay Bruce's mad dash home from second.

Prado completed his second double of the game in the fifth, launching one into deep right that outfielder Jay Bruce flat-out missed.  Both Adam Conley and Realmuto scored.  Conley himself started it all with a surprising two-out hit.  As for the man's pitching, he went 5 2/3 innings and surrendered four hits and two earned runs while striking out seven.  His counterpart, John Lamb, lasted five innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs, but struck out a career-high nine batters.

In the eighth, Giancarlo Stanton added the insurance run with a ball that, after shattering his bat, squirted up the middle, scoring Realmuto, his third run of the game.  That was Stanton's only hit in four plate appearances.  Prado finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs and one walk, and Realmuto added two hits to his three runs.  Marcell Ozuna was only 1 for 4 with two strikeouts, but perhaps he's saving his hits for Tuesday when he starts for the National League.

A.J. Ramos recorded his 27th save to tie Pittsburgh Pirate Mark Melancon for the second most in the National League.

Tomorrow at 1:10, Tom Koehler (6-7) will face Cody Reed (0-3) in the final game before the All-Star break.