Marlins Look To Take Series Against Host Reds
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CINCINNATI (CBSMiami/AP) – The Miami Marlins have been getting an influx of offense from a very unlikely source.
Long balls from Derek Dietrich proved vital in two of the Marlins' last three victories.
Another strong offensive display by Dietrich on Sunday could help the Marlins conclude this three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds with back-to-back wins.
Martin Prado went on the disabled list earlier this week with a right shoulder sprain, leading Miami (30-40) to call up Dietrich from Triple-A New Orleans as his replacement.
A .220 hitter in limited duty over the last two years, Dietrich has gone 6 for 17 (.353) while the Marlins have split six games with him starting at third base.
He connected for a two-run homer and a solo blast in Saturday's 5-0 win at Cincinnati, ending Miami's six-game road losing streak and helping Justin Nicolino win his major league debut hours after being called up from New Orleans.
"Dietrich gave us the power," manager Dan Jennings said. "It was huge to hit the ball the way he did. He got the head out and made the most of it."
Dietrich did the same in his first start of the season five days earlier, getting his second hit on a solo shot in the seventh that put the Marlins ahead for good in a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees.
The Marlins will hand the ball to David Phelps (4-3, 3.96), who is trying to win three straight starts for the first time. The right-hander has allowed two runs in 15 innings in his last two outings after going 0-3 with an 8.27 ERA over the previous four.
He's been in a rather comfortable position lately, receiving a combined 17 runs of support in his last two starts - 11 of which came in the opening inning. Spotted eight runs in the first Tuesday, he yielded two in seven innings of a 12-2 win over the Yankees.
"Phelps executed pitch after pitch and did a great job of getting it in and letting these guys continue to swing it," Jennings said. "(For the offense) to put up an eight-spot, he could be a little more free with what he wanted to throw and how he wanted to attack that lineup, and he certainly did."
Phelps won his only career start against Cincinnati on July 18, allowing three runs - two earned - and two homers in 6 1-3 innings while with the Yankees.
The Reds, who had a three-game winning streak end Saturday, are giving Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 3.70) his first matchup with the Marlins. The right-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. However, he only has one win to show for it and that came in Tuesday's 5-2 victory at Detroit.
The rookie battled through 100 pitches in six innings, yielding two runs - one earned - and six hits with three walks. That gave Lorenzen some confidence after he was tagged for a season-high six runs and two homers in 4 1-3 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs five days earlier.
"That's the only way you're going to be successful at this level, is feeling like you belong and knowing that your stuff plays up to this level and just trusting it," Lorenzen said. "I work too hard to be scared when I face a lineup like (the Tigers). I just have to put the faith in the work that I've put into it."
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