Nick Lodolo gave the Cincinnati Reds five scoreless innings Sunday in his second start back from a left index finger blister, but the Miami Marlins rallied late for a 7-1 victory.
Lodolo threw 73 pitches and left after five innings despite holding Miami scoreless. He had a 75-pitch cap for the outing and finished just two pitches short of it, according to Mike Petraglia.
The outing was another step in Lodolo’s return after nearly five weeks on the injured list. He also continued using an adjusted curveball grip designed to help protect his finger while preserving the pitch’s movement.
Mike Petraglia reported that Lodolo did not put the workload on the heat, instead viewing his early exit as part of the process of rebuilding his arm strength. “Just more of the process of building up,” Lodolo said.
The left-hander settled in after a shaky opening inning, retiring 11 of the final 12 batters he faced. He finished with five scoreless innings while Cincinnati’s offense struggled to provide support.
The Reds managed just one run in the loss as Miami remained scoreless through the first seven innings. The Marlins then broke through in the eighth before adding five runs in the ninth to pull away.
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For Lodolo, the individual outing offered a positive sign despite the result. He completed his scheduled workload without another reported issue with the blister that had sidelined him.
His adjusted curveball remains another important part of the comeback. Lodolo is testing the grip while continuing to build his arm strength, giving Cincinnati a clearer picture of how he can handle his workload following the injury.
The Reds now move forward with Lodolo having completed another step in his return. Sunday’s five scoreless innings provided a solid foundation as he continues working toward a full workload.
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