Gennett’s two-run home run in the seventh gave Cincinnati a 4-0 lead. Gennett’s blast off Miami reliever Elieser Hernandez landed in the upper deck in right field and was his 23rd homer.
The Marlins threatened in the sixth as Starlin Castro and J.T. Realmuto singled, but Reed retired Peter O’Brien on a double-play grounder and Austin Dean on a fly to center.
Realmuto’s two-out RBI double off reliever Jared Hughes cut Cincinnati’s lead to 4-1. Raisel Iglesias inherited Realmuto and allowed a run-scoring single by O’Brien before retiring pinch hitter Derek Dietrich on a fly to center.
Iglesias walked two in the ninth before Gennett made a diving stop on a hard grounder by Miguel Rojas and threw him out at first for the final out. Iglesias earned his 29th save in 33 opportunities.
The Reds struck early on Gennett’s two-run double off Miami starter Jeff Brigham in the third. Gennett drove in Billy Hamilton and Scott Schebler, who had reached on walks.
Brigham (0-3) allowed two runs, three hits, four walks and struck out six in his third major league start since being promoted from Triple A New Orleans on Sept. 1
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle, bothered by right shoulder fatigue, will miss his next scheduled start on Sunday, and manager Jim Riggleman is uncertain if he will pitch again this season. “If I had an update as to when he will pitch in a game, I will say so,” Riggleman said. “We don’t even know if he will pitch in a game between now and the end of the year. He feels fine, but we’re just going to make a determination — do we want to do it in a controlled simulated situation or putting him a game for two innings?”
UP NEXT:
Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (10-12, 4.52), a former Marlins prospect, will start the second game of the series Friday. Castillo, acquired for RHP Dan Straily before the 2017 season, pitched eight innings, allowed one run and three hits and got the victory in his previous start against his former team on July 30, 2017.
Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-11, 4.93) will attempt to continue his home success on Friday. Chen has a 1.77 ERA in 12 home starts while his road ERA is 9.29 in 12 starts.
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