Marlins 2, Reds 0 - Jose Fernandez is a sick nasty absurdly good baseball player

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Michael Lorenzen wasn't super sharp in his start against the Miami Marlins Thursday evening, but he managed to do what he's largely done all season:  allow loads of baserunners but manage to pitch around great damage.  The Cincinnati Reds rookie threw 6 innings of 2 ER ball, and he struck out 5 fish in the process.

That's the good.

Lorenzen did allow 5 hits, walked 4, hit a guy, and allowed 3 steals in the running game - a pair of which dircetly fueled Miami's runs scored.  It's been the same story for Lorenzen for much of 2015, and while it has impacted the rookie's ability to pitch deep into games, the fact is that he's sitting on a 3.53 ERA at the end of the first half of the season, and that's pretty dang respectable.  And since the offense was busy getting completely shut down by Jose Fernandez, that's the kind of evening that takes home a JNMHSotG trophy.  Congrats, Mike.

Honorable Mentions are due to:  Marlon Byrd, who had a pair of hits (including a double); Burke Badenhop, who tossed a clean inning against the team with whom he broke into the majors; Ryan Mattheus, who also pitched a scoreless inning in relief; and Joey Votto, who doubled.

Key Plays

• Dee Gordon began the Bottom of the 1st with a single to CF, but Michael Lorenzen rebounded to get the next two batters on a K and a groundout.  Gordon did manage to steal 2B, however, and he then scored easily when Justin Bour hit a towering 410 ft double off the wall in CF.  Lorenzen then walked a Marlin and hit another, but managed to escape having allowed just the one run.  Reds trailed, 1-0.
• Gordon was behind the Marlins next run, as well, thanks to his leadoff single in the Bottom of the 5th.  He moved to 2B on a walk to Christian Yelich, and he later stole 3B when Tucker Barnhart threw behind him to 2B and he beat the throw to the hot corner.  Adeiny Hechevarria then grounded into a double play, but since Gordon was on 3B, he easily motored home.  Reds trailed, 2-0.
• Before, during, and after those innings, Fernandez kept the Reds bats in complete check, and despite a threat to threat in the Top of the 9th thanks to Votto's leadoff double, the good guys couldn't string any offense to speak of together in any fashion, and that was that.  Reds lose, 2-0.