Miami Marlins trash Cincinnati Reds behind Nolasco, offensive resurgence

After having just one run and seven hits through their first 22-innings, the Miami Marlins offense finally decided that the 2012 season had begun. Behind a strong pitching performance from Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins scored eight runs and pounded out twelve hits to defeat the Cincinnati Reds. The Marlins are finally in the win column.

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The Marlins got off to another slow start on Saturday evening. Neither team scored any runs through the first three innings. Finally, in the fourth inning, Omar Infante blasted a solo home run to left field to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Their first lead of the 2012 season and it only took 22+ innings to get it.

That lead was short lived as Joey Votto smacked a 2-run homer off of Nolasco in the bottom of the fourth. Was great news for my fantasy team, but I was extremely worried about the Marlins chances of winning the game.

Nolasco bounced back from that blunder and pitched well the rest of the game. Nolasco limited the Reds offense to six hits over his eight innings and struck out five hitters. Nolasco had his usual strong command, as he did not walk a single hitter. Nolasco did allow two home runs, but that is alright given the limited amount of base runners that got on.

With the Marlins leading 4-2 in the sixth, Votto came up with two on a only one out. Nolasco made a perfect pitch, and got Votto to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Everyone in the Marlins lineup, minus Gaby Sanchez, was well involved in this game. Jose Reyes went 1-for-5 and stole a base. Emilio Bonifacio had two hits, stole two bases, and scored two runs. Hanley Ramirez blasted a two-run shot to straight away center, a very positive sign for Marlins fans. Giancarlo Stanton went three for five with three runs batting in. Logan Morrison walked twice and John Buck hit his first home run of the season.

The player of the game, though, belonged to second baseman Omar Infante. Infante fell a single short of making Marlins history. After smashing a home run, double, and triple, all Infante needed in his ninth inning at-bat was a single. Unfortunately, Infante flew out and fell short. Still, a great game for him offensively.

Gaby Sanchez went 0-for-5 and did not even look too good at the plate. He did not take that over to his defense, though. Sanchez made a few nice picks on some sensational plays for short stop Jose Reyes. Reyes made an error in the game, but he still looked sensational at short. The Marlins defense was impressive last night.

Very nice win for the Marlins last night. Hopefully the offensive is ready to win the ball club even more games.

Today, the Marlins finish their series off with the Reds. The Marlins will send Carlos Zambrano to mound to face Bronson Arroyo. If the past season is any indication, the Marlins and Reds could be entering an old-fashioned shootout at Great American Ball Park tonight.

Prediction: Marlins 9, Reds 7

I will have a game recap up tonight after the game. I will try post a full series review thread on Monday.

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