Scrappy Marlins lineup has no answers for Reds pitching in shutout loss

Miami’s early-season reputation for grinding out at-bats and making life difficult on opposing pitchers never materialized Monday night, as the Cincinnati Reds blanked the Marlins 2-0 at loanDepot park to open a four-game set.

The Marlins, who did not return from New York until 2 a.m. after Sunday’s weather-delayed series finale against the Yankees, managed only three hits against a combined Reds staff anchored by left-hander Brandon Williamson. Williamson worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings before yielding to relievers Brock Burke, Tony Santillan and Emilio Pagán, who closed out the club’s first shutout of 2026.

Miami’s lone scoring chance came in the sixth when rookie catcher Agustin Ramirez ripped a two-out triple off the right-field wall. The inning ended one batter later when Jakob Marsee, who had already hit into two loud lineouts, struck out to strand the tying run 90 feet away.

“We stung a number of balls that, unfortunately, tonight were at people,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “The ones that we squared up just didn’t fall.”

The offensive silence spoiled a career-best effort from right-hander Janson Junk, who set personal highs with 7 1/3 innings and 87 pitches. Junk scattered two runs—an RBI single by Miami Westminster Christian product Sal Stewart in the fourth and a solo homer by Tyler Stephenson in the eighth—while keeping the Reds to three batters in scoring position. He leaned on a five-pitch mix, throwing 24 four-seam fastballs, 23 sliders, 23 changeups, 12 sweepers and six curveballs while firing first-pitch strikes to 18 of 29 hitters.

The defeat drops the Marlins to their first shutout of the campaign despite entering the contest averaging more than nine hits and 5.4 runs per game.

Prior to first pitch, Miami placed closer Pete Fairbanks on the paternity list so he could be present for the birth of his fourth child. The club recalled right-hander Ryan Gusto from Triple-A Jacksonville to supply bullpen length during Fairbanks’ absence.

“Ryan comes here and he’s stretched out as a starter, so he can provide us certainly some length if needed,” McCullough said. “Having Ryan be able to come up here and provide us some really quality length will be very beneficial.”

The Marlins will look to even the series Tuesday night in Game 2 against the Reds.