Marlins Come Back On Reds

     Josh Bell compiled home runs from both sides of the plate for his first time in the majors as the Miami Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. The Marlins begin a homestand against the New York Yankees on Friday. Miami leaped over the Reds in the National League standings. 

     Miami(60-56) got one run in the top of the fourth. Josh Bell sliced a solo home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch for his 13th homer of the year. 

     Cincinnati(60-57) responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Spencer Steer smashed a solo shot over the left-field fence on a 1-2 count for his 18th home run this season. Two batters later, Christian Encarnacion-Strand belted a two-run homer to left field on a 1-1 pitch for his third career home run. Joey Votto scored in front of him on the play.  

     The Red Legs increased their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Encarnacion singled into center field and Matt McLain crossed the plate. 

     The Marlins evened it up 4-4 in the eighth inning. Bell blasted a three-run homer to right-center field on the first pitch with Jon Berti and Luis Arraez aboard. The switch-hitting Bell hit a home run from each side of the plate in a Major League Baseball contest. It was the first time that it was accomplished in Marlins franchise history. 

     In the ninth inning, the Fish regained the lead 5-4. Bryan De La Cruz smacked a solo home run down the right-field line on the first pitch for his 16th homer of the 2023 campaign.