CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Chase Burns fired seven scoreless innings and Eugenio Suárez drove in the only run with a sixth-inning double, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night at Great American Ball Park.

Burns, the winning pitcher, allowed four hits and struck out eight without a walk. He improved to 14-2 on the season and bounced back from a rough outing against Washington on Aug. 8, when he gave up five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Against Miami, Burns was in control from the start. He retired the Marlins in order in the first, third and fifth innings, and he struck out the side in the fifth, getting Heriberto Hernández and Javier Sanoja on foul tips before fanning Owen Caissie swinging.

Sandy Alcantara took the loss for Miami despite matching Burns for much of the night. Alcantara allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, striking out two and walking four. He stranded runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings, but the Reds finally broke through in the sixth. JJ Bleday singled with one out, and Tyler Stephenson reached on a force out that erased Bleday at second. Suárez then doubled to center field, scoring Stephenson from first for a 1-0 Reds lead. It was Suárez’s 15th double of the season and his only hit of the night.

The Marlins had chances against Burns but could not push a run across. Xavier Edwards singled to lead off the game, but Otto Lopez grounded into a double play. Heriberto Hernández singled in the second, and Graham Pauley singled in the sixth, but both were erased on force plays. In the seventh, Otto Lopez singled with no outs, but Burns struck out Griffin Conine and Hernández, with the latter call confirmed after a challenge, then got Sanoja to ground into a force out at shortstop.

Burns worked around two walks in the third inning. Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz both drew two-out walks to put runners on first and second, but Sal Stewart flew out to right field to end the inning. In the fourth, Michael Toglia doubled on a line drive to left field that was deflected by center fielder Jakob Marsee, but Dane Myers lined out to right to strand him. Burns retired the side in order in the first, second and fifth innings, and he faced the minimum in the sixth after Marsee grounded into a force out to erase Pauley.

The Reds added pressure against Miami’s bullpen in the eighth. Josh Ekness relieved Alcantara with the Marlins trailing by one. Sal Stewart singled, and after Bleday flied out, Tyler Stephenson singled to put two on. Suárez struck out, but Ke’Bryan Hayes singled on a ground ball to first base, loading the bases. Dane Myers then grounded out to second baseman Xavier Edwards to end the inning and keep the score at 1-0.

Cincinnati’s bullpen made the lead stand. Brock Burke struck out three in a perfect eighth inning, striking out Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain and De La Cruz in order. Emilio Pagán pitched the ninth for his 15th save. He induced a soft grounder from Jakob Marsee, then retired Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez on flyouts to center field. Pagán has converted 15 save opportunities this season.

The Marlins finished with four hits, all singles, and left only a handful of runners stranded. Xavier Edwards went 1 for 4 with a walk? Actually no walks for Edwards. Let’s check: Edwards had a single, then struck out, flew out, flew out. So 1 for 4. Otto Lopez singled in the seventh, also 1 for 4. Heriberto Hernández singled in the second, and Graham Pauley singled in the sixth. That accounted for Miami’s offense. The Marlins struck out nine times, with several coming on foul tips or called third strikes.

Cincinnati’s defense also contributed to the shutout. Elly De La Cruz turned a double play in the first inning, ranging to his right on Otto Lopez’s grounder and flipping to Matt McLain, who completed the relay to Michael Toglia at first. Toglia made several putouts, including a ground ball to first base that helped Burns escape a two-on jam in the third. Noelvi Marte recorded an out in right field on a line drive by Jakob Marsee in the first inning.

The game was a stark contrast to the previous night for both teams. The Reds had won 9-8 at Chicago on Thursday, while the Marlins lost 13-1 at home to Pittsburgh. On Friday, the pitchers dominated in a crisp game that lasted 2 hours, 19 minutes. The announced attendance was 21,232.

Miami fell to 62-61 with the loss, while Cincinnati improved to 59-62. The teams met for the first time since an April series in Miami, when the Marlins won two of four games. The Reds have now won three of their last four games. The Marlins had won four of their previous six before Friday.

The series continues Saturday with the same two teams at Great American Ball Park. Miami then travels to Philadelphia for a three-game series beginning Monday. Cincinnati hosts St. Louis for a four-game set starting Monday, with a doubleheader scheduled for that day.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Miami 5, Cincinnati 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Miami a 50.30 percent probability of winning. The Marlins were installed as pregame favorites with a spread of -1.5. The combined total of one run went over the over/under line of 7.5.