The Cincinnati Reds' red-hot start to the season hit a significant speed bump in Miami on Wednesday night. Their five-game winning streak, which matched their longest from all of last season, was snapped by the Marlins in a 7-4 loss that saw starting pitcher Brady Singer endure a nightmarish outing.

Singer, a key part of the Reds' vaunted rotation, was rocked early and often. He failed to escape the third inning, surrendering 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in what was his shortest and most difficult start since last July. Compounding his struggles on the mound, Singer also committed the Reds' first two errors of the entire season on errant pickoff attempts in the first two innings, a surprising lapse for a team that had been flawless defensively.

The loss was a stark contrast to the Reds' thrilling victory just one night prior and marked their first road defeat of the young season after a perfect 5-0 start away from home. It also halted the momentum of an impressive 8-3 start, their best through 11 games since the 1990 championship season.

Despite the team's struggles, rookie slugger Sal Stewart provided a bright spot and a compelling storyline. Playing in his hometown of Miami with a large contingent of family and friends in the stands, Stewart continued his torrid week. He reached base and scored in the first inning, smacked a double in the third, and launched a two-run homer in the fifth to pull the Reds within two runs, showcasing the kind of clutch hitting that excites fans and builds legacies.

However, the Marlins' Connor Norby answered with a solo shot in the seventh to extend the lead back to three runs. The Reds did muster a final threat in the ninth, bringing the potential tying run to the plate, but the late rally fell short, sealing a disappointing end to their winning streak and a tough night for their starting pitcher.