Great American Ball Park gave the crowd a little bit of everything Friday night, but the real show was on the mound. Chase Burns and Sandy Alcantara went seven innings apiece, and Burns came out on top as the Reds edged the Miami Marlins 1-0 to open the three-game series.
For most of the night, neither lineup could get much going. Alcantara wiggled out of a third-inning mess after back-to-back one-out walks to Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, needing 14 pitches to get into trouble and then only four to escape it. Cincinnati left those runners stranded, and the game stayed scoreless.
Burns, meanwhile, kept Miami from building anything at all. He didn’t allow more than one baserunner in any of his first six innings, and he still took the mound for the seventh with the game locked at 0-0.
Cincinnati finally cracked through in the bottom of the sixth. JJ Bleday opened the inning with a one-out single, then Tyler Stephenson forced him out on a grounder.
With two outs, Eugenio Suarez lined a double into left, and Heriberto Hernandez’s ill-advised diving attempt turned costly when the ball skipped past him to the wall, letting Stephenson score all the way from first.
That was all the support Burns needed. Working with an 80-pitch count, he returned for the seventh and immediately faced a test when Otto Lopez singled and later stole second to move the tying run into scoring position. Burns answered by striking out Heriberto Hernandez, then finished the inning with a ground ball to shortstop.
Cincinnati’s bullpen handled the rest. Brock Burke struck out the side in the eighth, and after the Reds added two singles in their half of the inning without extending the lead, Emilio Pagan closed it out in 11 pitches.
The key play of the night was Hernandez’s failed diving try on Suarez’s double, the mistake that opened the door for the game’s only run.
Suarez also reached a milestone with the RBI double, collecting the 1500th hit of his career.
Burns improved to 14-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.47. He is now second in the league in wins and has the fifth-best ERA in baseball.
Pagan has been sharp since returning from the injured list in July, allowing two earned runs in 13.1 innings. That comes with a 1.35 ERA, 18 strikeouts and just two walks.
The Reds finished with more walks than strikeouts, 4 to 3, while Cincinnati pitchers piled up 11 strikeouts and did not issue a walk.
Saturday’s game is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, with Ryan Gusto (0-3, 4.78 ERA) facing Brady Singer (5-11, 4.66 ERA).
In Other News...
Reds Get A Timely Emilio Pagn Update After Late Absence
The Reds got a useful bit of reassurance on Emilio Pagn after his late absence, with the reliever sidelined by hand soreness but evaluated and cleared to continue. Terry Francona said the club is going to keep an eye on him, which matters for a bullpen that can ill afford to lose another late-inning option, even briefly.
Sal Stewarts return to the lineup also gives Cincinnati another reason to feel better about the day, especially after the rookie launched his 26th homer and stayed in the mix for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. For the Reds, the immediate concern is making sure Pagns hand issue doesnt linger, because even a small setback can change how Francona manages the back end of a game. [Read more 🡒]
Hunter Greenes Setback Leaves Reds Clinging To One Hope
Hunter Greenes latest elbow setback is the kind of development the Reds have spent years trying to avoid, but it has now become part of the conversation around one of the sports most electric young arms. Greene already had Tommy John surgery in 2019, and after going through another elbow procedure in 2024, his current season is over and the path back likely stretches well into next year, leaving Cincinnati to once again recalibrate around his absence.
The encouraging part for the Reds is that this is not uncharted territory, even if it is still a discouraging one. Pitchers such as Jacob deGrom and Shane McClanahan have made successful returns after multiple Tommy John surgeries, and teammate Tejay Antone has offered another reminder that a comeback can happen more than once. For Cincinnati, that is the sliver of hope left with Greene, even as the broader picture remains tied to patience, uncertainty and a long rehab ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Noelvi Martes Vanishing Role Puts His Reds Future In Doubt
Noelvi Martes place in the Reds everyday picture has continued to shrink, and the latest stretch has only made the situation feel more precarious. He has now been out of Cincinnatis starting lineup for four straight games, a notable turn for a player the club tried to reframe by moving him from third base to right field in 2025. Instead, Marte has struggled to find traction at the plate, both over his last 15 games and across the season as a whole, leaving the coaching staff with fewer reasons to keep forcing him into the mix.
Hctor Rodrguezs arrival has only added to the pressure on Martes role, and the competition for playing time has turned unforgiving. For a Reds team that once seemed to have a clear plan for Martes development, the uncertainty now goes well beyond a temporary slump. His current slide has opened up a much bigger question about where he fits in Cincinnatis long-term plans, and whether the front office will even carry him into another offseason. [Read more 🡒]