Going into this weekend's series against Detroit, I figured the Reds would have to win Friday and Sunday to take the series. That was because Justin Verlander was pitching today. Much to my delight, the Reds battled Verlander hard for 6 innings, managing to get 2 runs off of him, but it wasnt enough as the Tigers got one off of Sean Marshall in the 8th to get the 3-2 win.
WHY WE LOST
Once again, the bats did not deliver in important situations. The Reds were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and left 8 runners on base. Even though they forced Verlander to throw a lot of pitches (127 in 6 innings), they could not deliver the knock out punch.
THE TURNING POINT
In the bottom of the 7th, with the game tied 2-2, Kristopher Negron led off with a walk. He was erased on a fielder's choice ground out by Cozart. Votto was walked intentionally after a wild pitch moved Cozart to second. Another wild pitch gave the Reds runners at second and third, two outs for Brandon Phillips. Phillips, who looked like he was having trouble picking up the ball through the shadows, flew out to center to end the threat.
The very next half inning, the top of the 8th, Sean Marshall got the first two Tiger hitters, and he should have been out of the inning 1-2-3, but a fly ball that Heisey did not read well off the bat of Brenna Boesch fell in for a double. Dusty Baker chose to walk Miguel Cabrera and have Marshall, the lefty, pitch to Prince Fielder, the lefty. Unlike Brandon Phillips, Fielder made the Reds pay for the intentional walk, and singled to center scoring Boesch, and that was the ball game.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
While I also considered Todd Frazier, this one has to go to Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo was up against one of the games best pitchers, and battled with him pitch for pitch. Bronson went 7 innings, gave up 5 hits while striking out 4 and walking nobody. The only runs he surrendered came on two solo home runs.
UP NEXT
The Reds (32-26) look to take the series from the Tigers (27-32) tomorrow. Homer Bailey (4-4, 4.39 ERA) takes the hill for Cincinnati against Drew Smyly (2-2, 3.71 ERA) for Detroit.
The loss shrinks the Reds lead in the NL Central to 1.5 games over Pittsburgh (30-27). At the time of this post, the Pirates and Royals are tied 0-0 in the top of the third inning.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Two-out Hits Haunt Reds in 4-1 Loss to Pirates
This was just one of those days. The Pirates got 4 runs, all coming with two outs, and when the Reds hit the ball hard it seemed to be right at a Pirate defender. These days happen over the course of 162 games, but they are still frustrating to watch when they do.
WHY WE LOST
Bronson Arroyo just could not seal the deal against the Pirates lineup. In each of the first three innings, Arroyo got two outs on the Pirates, but each time the Pittsburgh lineup came through with a 2-out hit to score runs. Bronson got out of the 4th unscathed, but that was as far as he would go, and on a day when James McDonald was throwing well, and getting the breaks, that would be enough for the Pirates.
THE TURNING POINT
Despite not scoring a run until the 9th inning, the Reds offense did have opportunities. Perhaps the biggest missed opportunity came in the top of the 3rd. At that point the Pirates lead was 3-0. Hanigan led off with a double to the left center field gap. Arroyo was next up, and was willing to sacrifice. Instead, McDonald walked him on four straight pitches. The Reds had first and second, nobody out for Drew Stubbs. Stubbs was also asked to bunt, but put it in the worst spot imaginable. He bunted it hard right back to the pitcher. McDonald spun and easily got Hanigan at third. Wilson Valdez followed that with a strike out looking on a batting practice curve ball, and then Joey Votto flew out to center field to end the threat. Following that inning, James McDonald would set down 15 of the next 17 Reds he faced.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Alfred Simon did a yeoman's job out of the bull pen today. After Arroyo could only go 4 innings, Simon was asked to come in and keep the Reds in the game, and he did just that. Simon went 3 innings, struck out 3, walked 2 and gave up one hit. Most importantly, he did not surrender a run.
UP NEXT
The Reds (27-21) look to even the series with the Pirates (24-24) tomorrow. Homer Bailey (3-3, 4.19 ERA) will face off with Charlie Morton (2-5, 4.27 ERA).
Today's loss moves the Reds to only a half game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (27-22) in the NL Central. The Cardinals sent the Atlanta Braves to their 8th straight loss 8-2.
WHY WE LOST
Bronson Arroyo just could not seal the deal against the Pirates lineup. In each of the first three innings, Arroyo got two outs on the Pirates, but each time the Pittsburgh lineup came through with a 2-out hit to score runs. Bronson got out of the 4th unscathed, but that was as far as he would go, and on a day when James McDonald was throwing well, and getting the breaks, that would be enough for the Pirates.
THE TURNING POINT
Despite not scoring a run until the 9th inning, the Reds offense did have opportunities. Perhaps the biggest missed opportunity came in the top of the 3rd. At that point the Pirates lead was 3-0. Hanigan led off with a double to the left center field gap. Arroyo was next up, and was willing to sacrifice. Instead, McDonald walked him on four straight pitches. The Reds had first and second, nobody out for Drew Stubbs. Stubbs was also asked to bunt, but put it in the worst spot imaginable. He bunted it hard right back to the pitcher. McDonald spun and easily got Hanigan at third. Wilson Valdez followed that with a strike out looking on a batting practice curve ball, and then Joey Votto flew out to center field to end the threat. Following that inning, James McDonald would set down 15 of the next 17 Reds he faced.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Alfred Simon did a yeoman's job out of the bull pen today. After Arroyo could only go 4 innings, Simon was asked to come in and keep the Reds in the game, and he did just that. Simon went 3 innings, struck out 3, walked 2 and gave up one hit. Most importantly, he did not surrender a run.
UP NEXT
The Reds (27-21) look to even the series with the Pirates (24-24) tomorrow. Homer Bailey (3-3, 4.19 ERA) will face off with Charlie Morton (2-5, 4.27 ERA).
Today's loss moves the Reds to only a half game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (27-22) in the NL Central. The Cardinals sent the Atlanta Braves to their 8th straight loss 8-2.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Phillips blasts Reds to 4-3 win over Braves
The Reds have now won 4 in a row, and have guaranteed that they will not lose the series against the Braves. But I am greedy, I want more. I want to see how good it looks when all these guys are hitting at the same time. That means I want to see Jay Bruce get out of this funk. A funk that we as Reds fans have seen all too often in his young career. I am trying to not get too greedy, and just enjoy the fact that the boys are playing better ball, but I WANT MORE.
WHY WE WON
Sure the offense provided three home runs tonight, but the real difference was Mat Latos. Latos went 7 strong innings, striking out 8 while only allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. The Braves sent a really good pitcher to the mound in Brandon Beachy, and the Reds needed Latos to be good tnight. He was better than good, he was in command.
THE TURNING POINT
Hard to say that a game turns in the first inning, but tonight I think it did. Michael Bourn led off the game with a solo HR to right field. Against Beachy on a lot of nights that would have been enough, but the Reds offense picked up Latos immediately in the bottom of the first. Stubbs reached on an infield single and then stole second and moved to third on a Votto fly out. Runner on third, two outs, and the Reds needed a big hit. Brandon Phillips delivered with a home run to dead center field, given the Reds an early 2-1 lead. That calmed Latos down and let him settle in and not dwell on the first inning home run by Bourn.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
As good as Latos was tonight, if you hit two home runs in a game you are going to be player of the game. Brandon Phillips smacked two off of Brandon Beachy, who had only allowed one home run all year prior to tonight. Phillips was 2-4 with 2 HRs and 3 RBI.
UP NEXT
The Reds (23-19) look to take the series from the Braves (26-18) tomorrow night. Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 3.46 ERA) will face off against Tommy Hanson (5-3, 3.31 ERA).
Tonight's win moves the Reds into a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals (23-19) atop the NL Central. However, at the time of this post the Cardinals are leading the San Diego Padres 4-0 in the top of the 9th inning.
WHY WE WON
Sure the offense provided three home runs tonight, but the real difference was Mat Latos. Latos went 7 strong innings, striking out 8 while only allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. The Braves sent a really good pitcher to the mound in Brandon Beachy, and the Reds needed Latos to be good tnight. He was better than good, he was in command.
THE TURNING POINT
Hard to say that a game turns in the first inning, but tonight I think it did. Michael Bourn led off the game with a solo HR to right field. Against Beachy on a lot of nights that would have been enough, but the Reds offense picked up Latos immediately in the bottom of the first. Stubbs reached on an infield single and then stole second and moved to third on a Votto fly out. Runner on third, two outs, and the Reds needed a big hit. Brandon Phillips delivered with a home run to dead center field, given the Reds an early 2-1 lead. That calmed Latos down and let him settle in and not dwell on the first inning home run by Bourn.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
As good as Latos was tonight, if you hit two home runs in a game you are going to be player of the game. Brandon Phillips smacked two off of Brandon Beachy, who had only allowed one home run all year prior to tonight. Phillips was 2-4 with 2 HRs and 3 RBI.
UP NEXT
The Reds (23-19) look to take the series from the Braves (26-18) tomorrow night. Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 3.46 ERA) will face off against Tommy Hanson (5-3, 3.31 ERA).
Tonight's win moves the Reds into a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals (23-19) atop the NL Central. However, at the time of this post the Cardinals are leading the San Diego Padres 4-0 in the top of the 9th inning.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Reds' Bats Silent in 2-1 Loss to Nationals
I know that I will be glad to see the Washington Nationals leave town. Every year there is always one team that gives the Reds fits, and this years it appears to be the Nats. The Reds are now 1-5 on the year against the boys from D.C. Thank goodness they are not in our division.
WHY WE LOST
A complete lack of offensive execution. Sure, you tip your cap to Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman, but at some point this season we have to stop tipping our caps, and start getting hits. The Reds put the lead-off runner on in the 5th, 6th, and 7th inning. And in each of those innings, they failed to score. In the 5th, Ryan Hanigan led off with a single. Mat Latos could not get the bunt down to move him over. In the 6th, Joey Votto led off with a walk, and then was wiped off the base paths in a double play on a line drive off the bat of Brandon Phillips. Then in the 7th, Todd Frazier singled to right, and moved to second on a passed ball. Ryan Ludwick then had the worst at bat of the game as he struck out flailing at pitches outside the zone. Frazier would move to third on a Hanigan ground-out, but then Miguel Cairo grounded out weakly to second.
THE TURNING POINT
The game turned in the 5th inning. Mat Latos had worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 4th inning, and was facing the bottom of the Nationals line-up to start the 5th. Unfortunately, the lead-off hitter, Wilson Ramos, got just enough of a 2-2 fast ball to put over the center-field wall just out of the reach of Drew Stubbs. The problem with the home run went beyond the game being tied. It clearly rattled Latos. He began overthrowing, and walked the very next batter, who happened to be the pitcher, following the home run. That was the beginning of a difficult inning for Latos that saw him throw 35 pitches, and strand the bases loaded again. He got out of the inning with no more damage, but the pitch count killed him and he was out of the game.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Cozart and Phillips each made sparkling defensive plays, but I am giving the nod to Aroldis Chapman tonight. Chapman pitched the 8th and 9th and kept the score at 2-1 to give the offense a chance. He only gave up one hit, and that was on a broken bat single by Danny Espinosa. He struck out 4 batters, the highlight being a strike out of Bryce Harper on a 100 mile per hour fastball.
UP NEXT
The Reds (16-16) fall back to .500 and look to avoid a sweep against the Nationals (21-12) tomorrow. Bronson Arroyo (2-1, 2.75 ERA) will try to stop the bleeding. The Reds bats will try to get jump-started against Edwin Jackson (1-1, 3.49 ERA).
Tonight's loss keeps the Reds 3.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals (20-13) who lost their second in a row to the Atlanta Braves 7-2.
WHY WE LOST
A complete lack of offensive execution. Sure, you tip your cap to Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman, but at some point this season we have to stop tipping our caps, and start getting hits. The Reds put the lead-off runner on in the 5th, 6th, and 7th inning. And in each of those innings, they failed to score. In the 5th, Ryan Hanigan led off with a single. Mat Latos could not get the bunt down to move him over. In the 6th, Joey Votto led off with a walk, and then was wiped off the base paths in a double play on a line drive off the bat of Brandon Phillips. Then in the 7th, Todd Frazier singled to right, and moved to second on a passed ball. Ryan Ludwick then had the worst at bat of the game as he struck out flailing at pitches outside the zone. Frazier would move to third on a Hanigan ground-out, but then Miguel Cairo grounded out weakly to second.
THE TURNING POINT
The game turned in the 5th inning. Mat Latos had worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 4th inning, and was facing the bottom of the Nationals line-up to start the 5th. Unfortunately, the lead-off hitter, Wilson Ramos, got just enough of a 2-2 fast ball to put over the center-field wall just out of the reach of Drew Stubbs. The problem with the home run went beyond the game being tied. It clearly rattled Latos. He began overthrowing, and walked the very next batter, who happened to be the pitcher, following the home run. That was the beginning of a difficult inning for Latos that saw him throw 35 pitches, and strand the bases loaded again. He got out of the inning with no more damage, but the pitch count killed him and he was out of the game.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Cozart and Phillips each made sparkling defensive plays, but I am giving the nod to Aroldis Chapman tonight. Chapman pitched the 8th and 9th and kept the score at 2-1 to give the offense a chance. He only gave up one hit, and that was on a broken bat single by Danny Espinosa. He struck out 4 batters, the highlight being a strike out of Bryce Harper on a 100 mile per hour fastball.
UP NEXT
The Reds (16-16) fall back to .500 and look to avoid a sweep against the Nationals (21-12) tomorrow. Bronson Arroyo (2-1, 2.75 ERA) will try to stop the bleeding. The Reds bats will try to get jump-started against Edwin Jackson (1-1, 3.49 ERA).
Tonight's loss keeps the Reds 3.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals (20-13) who lost their second in a row to the Atlanta Braves 7-2.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Reds Score 5 in the 4th, Beat Brewers 6-1
The Reds are someplace they have not been so far this season, 2 games over .500. The offense is not completely in a groove yet, but you can tell it is coming. Meanwhile, the pitching has been outstanding, especially the bullpen, which has gone 24 innings without allowing a run.
WHY WE WON
Another solid pitching performance by the entire staff. Sure, the Reds scored 6 runs, but 5 of those came in one inning. While the offense was really good for one frame, the pitching was really good for 9. Bronson Arroyo, Logan Ondrusek, and Sean Marshall combined to hold the Brewers to just one run, and that came on a Ryan Braun solo home run in the first inning.
THE TURNING POINT
The game turned in the fourth inning. The Reds had not reached base against Marco Estrada through three, but that all changed when Zach Cozart led off the fourth with a solo home run. That was followed by a Drew Stubbs double. Joey Votto doubled scoring Stubbs. After Brandon Phillips singled, everybody came home on a Jay Bruce moon shot three-run home run to right center that was estimated to have travelled 463 feet. The Reds scored 5 in the top of the inning, but the turning point was the bottom of the fourth.
After being given 5 runs by his offense, Arroyo needed to shut the door on the Brewers and keep the momentum in the visiting dug-out. It didnt look like he would be able to do that, as Ryan Braun led off with a single, followed by an Aramis Ramirez single. Chris Heisey booted the ball in left, allowing Braun and Ramirez to move up, making it second and third with nobody out for the Brewers.
But Arroyo did not give in. He struck out Corey Hart swinging, and then got Jonathan Lucroy to pop out to Brandon Phillips. After walking Travis Ishikawa to load the bases, he got Cesar Izturis to fly out to Bruce in right, leaving the bases loaded. The Brewers would never threaten a big inning again.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Bronson Arroyo went 6.2 innings, only giving up the solo home run to Ryan Braun. He surrendered 6 hits, while striking out 9 and only walking 1. He was also helped out by the strike zone of home plate umpire Dan Iassogna that was as wide as the Grand Canyon. But to Arroyo's credit, he took advantage of the liberal zone and cashed in for another strong outing.
UP NEXT
The Reds (15-13) look to take the first series of the season from the Brewers (12-17) tomorrow. Homer Bailey (1-2, 3.77 ERA) looks to continue the string of strong Reds starts. He will be opposed by Yovani Gallardo (1-3, 5.79 ERA) who was pushed back from his scheduled start today.
Tonight's win moves the Reds to within 2 games of the St. Louis Cardinals (17-11) in the NL Central. At the time of this post, the Cardinals are beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 in the bottom of the 6th.
WHY WE WON
Another solid pitching performance by the entire staff. Sure, the Reds scored 6 runs, but 5 of those came in one inning. While the offense was really good for one frame, the pitching was really good for 9. Bronson Arroyo, Logan Ondrusek, and Sean Marshall combined to hold the Brewers to just one run, and that came on a Ryan Braun solo home run in the first inning.
THE TURNING POINT
The game turned in the fourth inning. The Reds had not reached base against Marco Estrada through three, but that all changed when Zach Cozart led off the fourth with a solo home run. That was followed by a Drew Stubbs double. Joey Votto doubled scoring Stubbs. After Brandon Phillips singled, everybody came home on a Jay Bruce moon shot three-run home run to right center that was estimated to have travelled 463 feet. The Reds scored 5 in the top of the inning, but the turning point was the bottom of the fourth.
After being given 5 runs by his offense, Arroyo needed to shut the door on the Brewers and keep the momentum in the visiting dug-out. It didnt look like he would be able to do that, as Ryan Braun led off with a single, followed by an Aramis Ramirez single. Chris Heisey booted the ball in left, allowing Braun and Ramirez to move up, making it second and third with nobody out for the Brewers.
But Arroyo did not give in. He struck out Corey Hart swinging, and then got Jonathan Lucroy to pop out to Brandon Phillips. After walking Travis Ishikawa to load the bases, he got Cesar Izturis to fly out to Bruce in right, leaving the bases loaded. The Brewers would never threaten a big inning again.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Bronson Arroyo went 6.2 innings, only giving up the solo home run to Ryan Braun. He surrendered 6 hits, while striking out 9 and only walking 1. He was also helped out by the strike zone of home plate umpire Dan Iassogna that was as wide as the Grand Canyon. But to Arroyo's credit, he took advantage of the liberal zone and cashed in for another strong outing.
UP NEXT
The Reds (15-13) look to take the first series of the season from the Brewers (12-17) tomorrow. Homer Bailey (1-2, 3.77 ERA) looks to continue the string of strong Reds starts. He will be opposed by Yovani Gallardo (1-3, 5.79 ERA) who was pushed back from his scheduled start today.
Tonight's win moves the Reds to within 2 games of the St. Louis Cardinals (17-11) in the NL Central. At the time of this post, the Cardinals are beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 in the bottom of the 6th.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Reds Play Home Run Derby, Beat Pirates 6-1
Tonight felt more like what this season was supposed to be about from the start. Reds hitters planting balls over the fence, and solid starting pitching shutting down the opponent. Hopefully the Reds like how this feels and can continue the good vibes through the rest of the series.
WHY WE WON
Timely hitting and outstanding pitching. The Reds scored single runs in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings to take a 3-1 lead after 5. Each of those runs came on a two-out hit. With Johnny Cueto pitching the way he did tonight, there was very little margin of error for Pirates' starter Kevin Correia, and the Reds did not let him off the hook by picking up those big 2 out RBIs.
THE TURNING POINT
Even though the Reds were winning, and Cueto was dealing, I did not relax watching on TV until the 7th inning. After Cueto struck out to lead-off the inning, Zach Cozart parked a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall. Not to be outdone, Drew Stubbs followed right behind Cozart, on the very next pitch in fact, and drove one out of the deepest part of PNC Park, the 410 foot left field power alley. That gave the Reds a 5-1 lead and effectively finished the Pirates off for the night.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
On a night when the Reds hit three home runs, the player of the game was Johnny Cueto. Cueto threw a complete game, 7-hitter, giving up only 1 earned run while striking out 4. Cueto was extremely effective in the strike zone, throwing first pitch strikes to 23 of 33 batters he faced. And perhaps most impressively, he did not walk a batter all night. The Pirates had to earn everything they got, and that was not much.
UP NEXT
The win moves the Reds (13-12) over .500 for the first time since Game 3 of the season. In order to stay over .500, they will need to get a much better performance from Mike Leake (0-3, 6.65 ERA) on the mound tomorrow. Leake may be pitching for his life in the rotation when he faces the Pirates (11-15). Pittsburgh will counter with James McDonald (1-1, 2.97 ERA).
Tonight's win moves the Reds to within 3 games of the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals (16-9). At the time of this post the Cardinals are trailing the Astros 5-4 in the middle of the 7th in Houston.
WHY WE WON
Timely hitting and outstanding pitching. The Reds scored single runs in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings to take a 3-1 lead after 5. Each of those runs came on a two-out hit. With Johnny Cueto pitching the way he did tonight, there was very little margin of error for Pirates' starter Kevin Correia, and the Reds did not let him off the hook by picking up those big 2 out RBIs.
THE TURNING POINT
Even though the Reds were winning, and Cueto was dealing, I did not relax watching on TV until the 7th inning. After Cueto struck out to lead-off the inning, Zach Cozart parked a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall. Not to be outdone, Drew Stubbs followed right behind Cozart, on the very next pitch in fact, and drove one out of the deepest part of PNC Park, the 410 foot left field power alley. That gave the Reds a 5-1 lead and effectively finished the Pirates off for the night.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
On a night when the Reds hit three home runs, the player of the game was Johnny Cueto. Cueto threw a complete game, 7-hitter, giving up only 1 earned run while striking out 4. Cueto was extremely effective in the strike zone, throwing first pitch strikes to 23 of 33 batters he faced. And perhaps most impressively, he did not walk a batter all night. The Pirates had to earn everything they got, and that was not much.
UP NEXT
The win moves the Reds (13-12) over .500 for the first time since Game 3 of the season. In order to stay over .500, they will need to get a much better performance from Mike Leake (0-3, 6.65 ERA) on the mound tomorrow. Leake may be pitching for his life in the rotation when he faces the Pirates (11-15). Pittsburgh will counter with James McDonald (1-1, 2.97 ERA).
Tonight's win moves the Reds to within 3 games of the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals (16-9). At the time of this post the Cardinals are trailing the Astros 5-4 in the middle of the 7th in Houston.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Samardzija Stymies Reds' Bats for a 3-1 Cubs Win
The Reds series win streak will end at 3 as they drop the series opener to the Cubs tonight, 3-1. The series has been shortened to two games after last night's rain out, so the best the Reds can do is split with a win tomorrow.
WHY WE LOST
Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija was peppering the zone all night and the Cincinnati bats never figured him out. He actually was throwing harder in the eighth inning than he threw in the first inning. Some nights the guy on the mound is just better than you, and tonight was one of those nights. So you jus tip the cap and move on. Samardzija went 7.2 innings, gave up only 3 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 8.
THE TURNING POINT
It would be a cop out to say the turning point was when Samardzija finished warming up and took the mound for the first inning, but that is what it felt like tonight.
If I had to pick another moment it would be the bottom of the fifth. With the score 2-1 Cubs, Chris Heisey singled with one out on a hard ground ball to the third basemen Ian Stewart. Ryan Hanigan followed with a ball hit pretty well towards center field. Second basement Blake DeWitt, dove, knocked the ball down, and fumbled it before flipping to Starlin Castro to start a 4-6-3 double play. What looked like it would be first and third with one out down only a run, turned into the end of an inning. The very next half inning, the top of the 6th, the Cubs tacked on another run to make it 3-1 and the Reds did not get a runner in scoring position with less than two outs the rest of the night.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Despite taking his first loss of the season, Bronson Arroyo pitched well enough to win tonight, if it hadn't have been for Samardzija. Arroyo gets a quality start, going 6 inning, surrendering 3 earned runs on 9 hits. Arroyo was victimized by the long ball, giving up solo shots to Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart, but avoided the big inning and kept the Reds in the game.
UP NEXT
The Reds (11-12) look to split the rain-shortened sereies with the Cubs (9-15) tomorrow in a businessman's special. Cincinnati sends Homer Bailey (1-2, 3.60 ERA) against Chicago's Ryan Dempster (0-1, 1.33 ERA). Dempster has pitched well, but will be activated off the DL tomorrow, so hopefully he will show a little rust and the Reds can take advantage.
Tonight's loss moves the Reds 4 games behind the NL Central division-leading St. Louis Cardinals (15-8).
WHY WE LOST
Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija was peppering the zone all night and the Cincinnati bats never figured him out. He actually was throwing harder in the eighth inning than he threw in the first inning. Some nights the guy on the mound is just better than you, and tonight was one of those nights. So you jus tip the cap and move on. Samardzija went 7.2 innings, gave up only 3 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 8.
THE TURNING POINT
It would be a cop out to say the turning point was when Samardzija finished warming up and took the mound for the first inning, but that is what it felt like tonight.
If I had to pick another moment it would be the bottom of the fifth. With the score 2-1 Cubs, Chris Heisey singled with one out on a hard ground ball to the third basemen Ian Stewart. Ryan Hanigan followed with a ball hit pretty well towards center field. Second basement Blake DeWitt, dove, knocked the ball down, and fumbled it before flipping to Starlin Castro to start a 4-6-3 double play. What looked like it would be first and third with one out down only a run, turned into the end of an inning. The very next half inning, the top of the 6th, the Cubs tacked on another run to make it 3-1 and the Reds did not get a runner in scoring position with less than two outs the rest of the night.
REDS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Despite taking his first loss of the season, Bronson Arroyo pitched well enough to win tonight, if it hadn't have been for Samardzija. Arroyo gets a quality start, going 6 inning, surrendering 3 earned runs on 9 hits. Arroyo was victimized by the long ball, giving up solo shots to Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart, but avoided the big inning and kept the Reds in the game.
UP NEXT
The Reds (11-12) look to split the rain-shortened sereies with the Cubs (9-15) tomorrow in a businessman's special. Cincinnati sends Homer Bailey (1-2, 3.60 ERA) against Chicago's Ryan Dempster (0-1, 1.33 ERA). Dempster has pitched well, but will be activated off the DL tomorrow, so hopefully he will show a little rust and the Reds can take advantage.
Tonight's loss moves the Reds 4 games behind the NL Central division-leading St. Louis Cardinals (15-8).
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