Miami had rattled off wins in 4 of its last 5 games before this series, blowing out the Angels and Pirates in lopsided fashion, only to get run off the field in its final tune-up beforehand. Cincinnati, meanwhile, had been treading water — a loss, a loss, a win, a loss, a win — form that neither buries a team nor lifts it, just keeps it hovering around .500 deep into August.
- 10-Day-ILKyle Stowers (1B) — Miami placed Stowers on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain on Tuesday.08/11
- 15-Day-ILAnthony Bender (RP) — The Marlins have tentatively scheduled Bender (shin) to face hitters Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.08/12
- 15-Day-ILMax Meyer (SP) — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Wednesday that Meyer (neck) received a cortisone shot to relieve discomfort in the rib area, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.08/12
- 15-Day-ILWilliam Kempner (RP) — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Wednesday that Kempner will require surgery for his sprained right elbow, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.08/12
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi (RP) — Nardi (ribs) is scheduled to visit a doctor Tuesday after experiencing elbow discomfort, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.08/07
- 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling (SP) — Snelling (elbow) is expected to begin a throwing program in September, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.08/07
- 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur (SP) — Mazur (elbow) is expected to begin a throwing program sometime in September, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.08/07
- 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez (RP) — Henriquez (elbow) began playing catch from 60 feet out Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.07/18
- 10-Day-ILSpencer Steer (1B) — Steer (wrist) is scheduled to have a splint removed from his right wrist Monday, MLB.com reports.08/10
- 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Santillan (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday.08/14
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) will be out for 12-to-18 months after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.08/13
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson (shoulder) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings Tuesday in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville.08/13
- 60-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — The Reds transferred Dunn (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.08/06
- 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) is on a throwing program, which will have him throw from 105 feet beginning July 20 at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/18
The absences told two different stories. Miami's rotation had been picked apart all month — Max Meyer nursing a neck injury that needed a cortisone shot, Robby Snelling and Adam Mazur both still building back arm strength from elbow trouble — while Cincinnati absorbed a season-altering blow when Hunter Greene needed a second Tommy John surgery, ending his year and reshaping the outlook for next season more than this particular start. Neither club was whole, but only one of them needed length from its ace to get through the night.
When the line score settled, Cincinnati had done just enough — a single run crossing in the sixth inning stood up as the entire margin, and Miami's lineup never found an answer, finishing with 4 hits and nothing to show for them. Alcantara's recent run of shutting offenses down continued in exactly the way that hurts a box score: nothing to complain about on the mound, everything to complain about at the plate.