Max Meyer strikes out a career-high 14 to lead Marlins over Reds 6-3

MIAMI (AP) — Max Meyer struck out a career-high 14 in six scoreless innings, pinch-hitter Kyle Stowers had a three-run homer in the seventh and the Miami Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 on Monday night.

Meyer struck out the side in the sixth and walked into the dugout to a standing ovation with Miami's first double-digit strikeout game since last June 1.

Meyer (2-2) allowed five hits and walked none, lowering his ERA to 2.10. His previous strikeout high was eight strikeouts.

Jesús Tinoco got three straight outs for his second save as the Marlins won their second straight following a five-game losing streak.

Nick Lodolo (2-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Jesús Sánchez hit a run-scoring single in the second for his first RBI this season and Ronny Simon following with another run-scoring single.

Eric Wagaman hit his third home run this season for in the fifth, a 407-foot shot just over the glove of leaping center fielder TJ Friedl.

Gavin Lux hit his first home run this season, a two-run drive off Tyler Phillips in the eighth.

Agustín Ramírez and Simo got their first major league hits in the second inning. Ramírez had an infield single and later scored on Simon’s single to center. Ramírez followed Stowers' homer with a double and he took third for his first big league steal.

Meyer tied for the third-most strikeouts in Marlins history behind Ricky Nolasco’s 16 against Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2009, and Liván Hernández’s 15 vs. the Braves in Game 5 of the 1997 NL Championship Series.

Miami RHP Edward Cabrera (0-1, 6.52 ERA), who began the season on the IL with a right middle finger blister, is set to make his third start of the season on Tuesday against Cincinnati RHP Nick Martinez (0-3, 6.00 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo looks from the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Agustin Ramirez (50) is congratulated after scoring on a single hit by Ronny Simon during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Agustin Ramirez reacts after hitting a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Reds' Gavin Lux, left, gives autographs before a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Eric Wagaman, right, greets the third base coach after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers (28) runs the bases after hitting a three run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers (28) is met by second baseman Otto Lopez, second from left, after hitting a three run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer follows through on a delivery during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (23) throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MADRID (AP) — Coco Gauff overpowered defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-1 to reach the Madrid Open singles final for the first time Thursday.

Gauff broke Swiatek's serve three times in the first set and twice in the second to cruise to a 64-minute semifinal victory over the second-ranked Swiatek at the clay-court tournament.

Gauff will face top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Madrid final for the fourth time in her career.

It was Gauff's first win over Swiatek on clay.

“The mentality that I had in the whole match was aggressive,” the fourth-ranked Gauff said. “Maybe it wasn't her best level today, but I think I forced her into some awkward positions.”

Swiatek had recovered from losing the first set 0-6 to Madison Keys on Wednesday.

“I couldn’t really get my level up,” the four-time French Open champion said. “Coco played good, but I think it’s on me that I didn’t really move well, I wasn’t ready to play back the shots with heaviness, and with that kind of game. It was pretty bad.”

The last time Swiatek won only two or fewer games in a match — on any surface — was a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Jelena Ostapenko in Birmingham in 2019.

“For me," Gauff added, “it was just making sure my level stayed the same. In the second, I raised it.”

Sabalenka returned to the final after ending Svitolina's unbeaten run on clay this year — she was 9-0 on the surface in 2025, without losing a set.

Sabalenka won the title in Madrid in 2021 and 2023, and was runner-up to Swiatek last year.

Gauff is 5-4 against Sabalenka and won their only prior meeting on clay, in Rome in 2021. The American also won their most recent meeting, at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh.

By beating Svitolina, Sabalenka became the first player to obtain 30 main-draw wins at WTA events in 2025.

In the men's quarterfinals, Casper Ruud advanced by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5 to become the first player born in 1990 or later to reach 30 tour-level semifinals on clay.

The 15th-ranked Norwegian had been 0-3 against Medvedev in his career.

“I looked at our stats last night and saw he beat me on grass, outdoor hard and indoor hard. The last surface was clay so I thought, ‘please don’t make it 4-0,’” Ruud said. “I tried to use the surface to my advantage. I thought the level was pretty good from both players, I was impressed with Daniil’s ability to produce power here on clay."

Ruud will next face Francisco Cerundolo, who rallied to defeat teenager Jakub Mensik 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Cerundolo had beaten top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the previous round.

In another quarterfinal, fifth-ranked Jack Draper defeated Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-4. Arnaldi had beaten Novak Djokovic in the second round. Draper will enter the top 5 in the rankings for the first time thanks to his run in Madrid. He will face 10th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-3.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her match against United States' Coco Gauff during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff serves against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Casper Ruud of Norway, left, shakes hands after winning against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Casper Ruud of Norway celebrates after winning against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Casper Ruud of Norway returns the ball against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Casper Ruud of Norway returns the ball against against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball against Casper Ruud of Norway during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Iga Swiatek of Poland leaves the court after losing against United States' Coco Gauff during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff returns the ball to Iga Swiatek of Poland during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff returns the ball against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)