Marlins rookie shuts down Reds 4-0
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins have been in a wait-til-next-year mode for weeks, and rookie Jacob Turner hopes to be part of their 2013 plans.
Turner’s 10th career start was his best yet Friday, when he pitched seven innings and earned his first National League victory by helping the Marlins beat NL Central leader Cincinnati 4-0.
The 21-year-old right-hander, auditioning for a role in the rotation next year, has allowed only two runs in his past 13 innings.
“Anytime you can build upon a start from one start to the next, you’re doing something right,” he said. “I’m excited about that.”
Turner (1-2) allowed only two hits to outpitch Bronson Arroyo (12-8), who gave up four runs in six innings.
Cincinnati was shut out for only the third time, fewest in the NL.
“We didn’t put any pressure on those guys, which is a little disappointing,” Arroyo said. “You’ve got to tip your hat. The guy doesn’t have many big-league starts under his belt, and it was a good outing on his part.”
Miami’s Steve Cishek pitched the ninth to complete a three-hitter.
Turner walked two, struck out three, lowered his ERA to 3.75 and helped the Marlins break a three-game losing streak.
“We just couldn’t get anything going,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Before you look up, it was 0-and-2 and there were two outs and nobody on base.”
Turner’s only other career victory came July 22 for Detroit. He was acquired the next day by Miami in a trade that sent right-hander Anibal Sanchez and second baseman Omar Infante to the Tigers.
He has given up only three walks in 24 innings with Miami. Opponents are batting .184 against him.
“He’s very impressive in the zone,” the Reds’ Joey Votto said. “It’s impressive how few walks he has thrown. It bodes well for him.”
Said Turner: “I was just being aggressive early, trying to get ahead as much as I could.”
Arroyo, who had been 5-0 in his past six starts, gave up nine hits, including Greg Dobbs’ fifth homer. The Marlins’ Justin Ruggiano reached base three times and doubled home a run.
The Reds became the final NL team to make their debut at spacious Marlins Park, and they missed their homer-friendly home in Cincinnati. Brandon Phillips and Votto connected solidly on drives that didn’t even make it to the warning track.
“This ballpark negated our long ball,” Baker said. “Brandon hit one a ton out there we thought, and Joey hit one good, and those balls weren’t even close.”
Miami is nearing the end of a disappointing season, and after the victory, manager Ozzie Guillen tweeted a profanity in reference to a reporter, saying he made “stupid comments about the miami team. ... we still play hard. ... i think u no watch.”
The Marlins hustled plenty in the fifth inning, when they scored twice as a result of a wild sequence.
With Ruggiano at second base and Jose Reyes at first and two out, Carlos Lee singled to right field. After Ruggiano beat the throw home, Lee was hung up between first and second. Reyes then broke for home and beat shortstop Wilson Valdez’s throw to the plate for a 4-0 lead.
Lee was then tagged out at second when he slid headfirst into Valdez’s right leg, and he left the game with a strained neck. His status is day to day.
Miami took a 1-0 lead in the third. Rob Brantly led off with a single, advanced on a single by Bryan Petersen and scored on a double by Ruggiano.
Dobbs homered to lead off the fourth.
NOTES: Reyes’ sharp single in the fifth deflected off the gloves of Arroyo and a diving Phillips at second base, then continued into center field. ... The Marlins transferred INF-OF Emilio Bonifacio to the 60-day disabled list and selected the contract of INF Gil Velazquez, who entered the game for Lee in the sixth. ... Reds 3B Scott Rolen was given the night off. ... RHP Johnny Cueto, scheduled to start Saturday for the Reds, has a 5.63 ERA in three career starts in Miami. LHP Mark Buehrle, scheduled to start for Miami, has a 1.29 ERA in three starts against Cincinnati.