CIN 6, MIA 0; Zach Thompson Flounders in Fourth, Offense Ineffective

There are better ways the Miami Marlins could have started their weekend. Not many things went their way in a 6-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Friday night.

Marlins starting pitcher Zach Thompson came into the night having been a solid back-end rotation piece this season, coming in with a 2.91 ERA in 11 starts. He had only allowed more than two earned runs once since July 23.

With the exception of a first-inning home run to Tyler Naquin, Thompson looked like he was cruising to a decent start once again. But it took just one inning for all of that to unravel. He gave up four runs in the fourth inning, totalling a career-high five runs allowed. However, two of those runs were unearned thanks to a Miguel Rojas throwing error that allowed the Reds to plate two runners.

Rojas has committed an error in consecutive games for the first time since July 16-17 despite entering the game leading Major League shortstops in defensive value with 11.5, per FanGraphs.

That was more than enough help for Wade Miley. Pitching in Marlins/LoanDepot Park for the first time since 2014, the veteran southpaw had a stress-free seven scoreless innings. After beginning the season with a 4-4 record, he has won seven straight decisions.

Zach Thompson now has a 4.50 ERA in five starts when Alex Jackson is catching (2.09 ERA in his eight starts with other Marlins catchers).

Although the Reds’ offense was helped from an all-around effort, Mike Moustakas was the biggest Fish killer on Friday. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double.

It didn’t translate to any run production, but Bryan De La Cruz delivered a double to the left-center gap. He has at least one hit in 19 of his 24 August games.

The Marlins will try to get back on track Saturday night with Sandy Alcantara on the mound. He will face Vladimir Guitierrez at 6:10 p.m.

Baseball Savant

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