CINCINNATI — The Marlins arrived in the Queen City around 3 or 4 a.m. ET on Friday morning after a late game in Houston on Thursday night.
After a slow start against Reds starter Carson Spiers, Jesús Sánchez woke up the Marlins with a three-run homer in the fourth inning. They then threatened with a game-tying rally in the top of the ninth, bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but Miami wasn’t able to complete the comeback in a series-opening 7-4 loss to Cincinnati.
Despite the late-night (or, early-morning) arrival, manager Skip Schumaker decided not to alter the team’s pregame routine. The players began arriving at Great American Ball Park around 2:30 p.m.
“You get some of these trips, unfortunately,” Schumaker said. “Getting in at 4 o’clock isn’t ideal, but that’s part of being a big leaguer and adjusting. I think most of the guys got [enough] sleep.”
Friday night was particularly rough for Marlins right-hander Yonny Chirinos (0-1) who allowed a season-high seven earned runs and three homers.
Jonathan India and Jeimer Candelario hit a pair of solo homers in the first inning before Rece Hinds teed off in the third for his first career grand slam, putting the Reds ahead, 7-0.
“Those are very aggressive hitters,” Chirinos said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “You don’t want to make mistakes and miss location. It’s part of the game. They took advantage of it. After that, I kept attacking to go deeper in the game.”
Despite the late-night (or, early-morning) arrival, manager Skip Schumaker decided not to alter the team’s pregame routine. The players began arriving at Great American Ball Park around 2:30 p.m.
“You get some of these trips, unfortunately,” Schumaker said. “Getting in at 4 o’clock isn’t ideal, but that’s part of being a big leaguer and adjusting. I think most of the guys got [enough] sleep.”
Friday night was particularly rough for Marlins right-hander Yonny Chirinos (0-1) who allowed a season-high seven earned runs and three homers.
Jonathan India and Jeimer Candelario hit a pair of solo homers in the first inning before Rece Hinds teed off in the third for his first career grand slam, putting the Reds ahead, 7-0.
“Those are very aggressive hitters,” Chirinos said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “You don’t want to make mistakes and miss location. It’s part of the game. They took advantage of it. After that, I kept attacking to go deeper in the game.”
Prior to Friday’s game, Schumaker discussed the key to success for Chirinos: Keeping the ball on the ground, especially in homer-friendly Great American Ball Park.
“If you don’t punch out a lot of guys, which he doesn’t, you have to be on the ground,” Schumaker said. “He’s got a good sinker. He’s got a good changeup. It’s just too many balls in the air, and obviously over the fence.”
Chirinos induced six flyouts and six groundouts vs. the Reds, with just one strikeout. But despite giving up those seven runs through just 2 2/3 innings, Chirinos stayed the course. He completed 5 2/3 innings, helping keep the Marlins’ bullpen from getting too depleted too quickly.
