Right-hander Bronson Arroyo will try to get the Cincinnati Reds started on another win streak Saturday when they host the Miami Marlins in the third game of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds had won four straight games - including Thursday's opener - before dropping a 2-1 decision to the Marlins on Friday night.
With one out in the ninth inning, Justin Ruggiano clobbered a 3-1 change-up from Aroldis Chapman (2-1) over the left-center field wall. It was the first run and only the fourth hit Chapman had allowed all season.
"I just waited him out and got the pitch I was looking for. He's tough and has a lot of moving parts. I told myself to not get beat up and kept a two-strike approach the whole time," Ruggiano said.
Placido Polanco also had an RBI and Nick Green collected three hits for the Marlins, who picked up just their fourth win of the season.
Mike Dunn (1-0) earned the win after recording the final two outs of the eighth inning and Steve Cishek stranded a runner in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Starter Kevin Slowey worked six innings of one-run ball, scattering four hits while fanning four.
Joey Votto knocked in the Reds' lone run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Mat Latos also had a strong start, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out 10 batters over seven frames.
"It's frustrating because we got the loss. I did the best I could tonight. I had a solid outing and gave us a chance to win, it was just one of those games," Latos said.
Arroyo, a native of Key West, Fla., has won a pair of home starts this season against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Philadelphia while allowing five runs on 13 hits in 14 innings. He's walked one and struck out eight.
Arroyo dropped his lone road start at St. Louis.
He's just 1-4 in 10 career meetings against Miami, but is six games above .500 in 117 career starts at Great American.
For the Marlins, lefty Wade LeBlanc tries for the fourth time to get a first win of 2013.
The Louisiana native has dropped two starts to Washington and one to Atlanta in three outings, while allowing 20 hits and 11 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings.
His lone road start, at Washington on April 4, saw him surrender two earned runs in five innings of a 6-1 loss.
LeBlanc is 2-0 in his career against the Reds, both at Great American, where he's given up only three runs on five hits in 12 innings.
The teams have split their season series, 3-3, for each of the last two years. Cincinnati won five of the seven games played in 2010.
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