Marlins Flip the Script in Cincy: Marsee & Mack Mash, Bullpen Slams the Door

CINCINNATI — The Miami Marlins don't do boring. And Saturday night at Great American Ball Park, they turned a tight ballgame into a late-inning fireworks show, storming back to beat the Reds 8-4.

Jakob Marsee and Joe Mack both went deep, but the real damage came in the eighth when the Marlins unloaded for four runs to flip a 4-3 deficit into a lead they'd never give back.

Late-Inning Heroics

Graham Pauley kicked off the rally with a sacrifice fly to tie it. Then Heriberto Hernandez stepped up with the bases loaded and ripped a single off Sam Moll, plating two and putting Miami up 6-4. Griffin Conine followed with an RBI single to make it 7-4. Pauley added an RBI double in the ninth for good measure.

Meanwhile, the Marlins' bullpen was absolutely nails. Four relievers combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings, with Tyler Zuber (2-1) picking up the win. TJ Antone (2-1) took the loss for Cincinnati.

The Long Balls

Marsee wasted zero time, launching Brady Singer's first pitch of the third inning over the fence to put Miami up 1-0. It was his seventh homer of the season and his first since July 30.

After the Reds rallied to take the lead — aided by a dropped fly ball from right fielder Esteury Ruiz and a two-run single from Sal Stewart (his 91st RBI of the year) — Mack answered in the fourth. He took Singer's first pitch deep to tie it at 2. That was Mack's 12th homer, and it tagged Singer for a career-high 24th long ball allowed this season.

Singer finished with three earned runs allowed on eight hits over six innings.

Reds Answer, But Not Enough

Cincinnati fired back in the fifth with back-to-back homers off Ryan Gusto. Ke'Bryan Hayes hit his fifth and McLain added his 11th to put the Reds up 4-3. Gusto allowed four runs — only two earned — on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out six without a walk. The two homers he gave up tied a season-high.

But the Marlins' offense was just getting started, and once they grabbed the lead in the eighth, the bullpen made sure it stuck.

What's Next

The Marlins move to 53-13 this season when scoring four or more runs — a ridiculously good mark that shows just how dangerous this lineup can be when it gets rolling. They'll look to take the series finale Sunday with Eury Pérez (6-9, 3.39) on the mound against Reds lefty Nick Lodolo.

If Saturday was any indication, there's plenty more chaos coming.