MIAMI — Since coming off the 10-day injured list with a left foot sprain in May, Wade Miley has been literally unbeatable. The Reds’ left-hander held the Marlins scoreless over seven innings, scattering six hits while striking out five and walking just one in Friday’s 6-0 win over the Marlins at loanDepot park.
Miley is now 7-0 in 16 starts since returning from the IL and is really just having fun with the Reds on a roll and competing for a playoff spot.
“We have a really good ballclub in here,” Miley said. “It’s really enjoyable to come to the ballpark every day. I feel like we’re going to win every day. When you get that feeling, especially this late down the stretch, it’s just really special to be a part of. The guys are buying into what we’re doing and I’m having a blast.”
Miley also delivered an RBI double and came around to score in a four-run fourth inning that gave the Reds a commanding 5-0 lead.
“Obviously, I want to be as productive as I can up there,” Miley said. “Their pitcher just hit a double off of me, so I just wanted to get him back. I tried to pull it and it went the other way, so it worked out.”
Manager David Bell certainly wasn’t surprised at his pitchers’ ability at the plate.
“He calls a homer every time he goes up to the plate, but we’ll take the double,” Bell said. “We’re waiting for the homer to come. He goes up there, he has a shot every single time he goes to the plate. It’s not always an RBI necessarily, or a home run, but just getting a base hit [or] having a tough at-bat can really make a difference in a game.”
Tyler Naquin (3-for-4) stayed hot at the plate as the Reds look to put some distance between them and the Padres for the final National League Wild Card spot. He’s hit far longer home runs this season, but Naquin’s 382-foot first-inning homer off Marlins starter Zach Thompson — his 19th of the year — gave the Reds a 1-0 lead and extended Naquin’s career-long hitting streak to 16 games, which is also the longest current hitting streak in the Majors.
It was just one run, but it allowed Miley to settle in with a lead, which propelled him and the Reds to another successful outing.
“Hitting is contagious,” Miley said. “It’s kind of worked out in a good time of the year when we’re trying to make a push to get into the playoffs. Hopefully we can just keep the train moving.”
Naquin has hit three of the Reds’ four longest home runs of the season (459, 454, 454). He was named the National League Player of the Week after going 13-for-26 with four homers, a triple, three doubles and a 1.706 OPS last week, which included a four-game sweep of the Marlins at Great American Ball Park.
Mike Moustakas (2-for-4) punctuated the win with his sixth homer of the season, a towering 427-foot solo shot to right field in the eighth inning.
“He was taking some really aggressive swings today and got some results, which is great,” Bell said of Moustakas. “He’s working hard, doing everything he can. He wants to be a big contributor on this team and tonight was a great night.”
