Well when the game started it looked like the winning streak to start the season was over. The Reds found themselves down four runs before they even came up to bat for the first time. But, I should have known better than that with this team. They will continue to battle no matter the deficit. Edinson Volquez settled down just enough, and the bats ripped Nelson Figueroa to shreds, scoring 12 unanswered runs for the 12-4 victory.
- The Reds should petition MLB to allow all Volquez starts to begin in the second inning. Volquez struggled mightily in the first inning last night, throwing 44 pitches and giving up 4 runs on 4 hits, while walking three batters. After that inning, he only gave up one more hit over the next four innings. Volquez cannot rely on the Reds offense to bail him out every start and he needs to be better from start to finish.
- The bright pitching note last night was the bullpen. Volquez scraped and clawed his way through five innings, and then the pen took over. The relievers (Ondrusek, Chapman, Bray, and Cordero) combined for four innings, giving up only two hits, while striking out 4 and walking only 1. Outstanding.
- Player of the game honors go to Brandon Phillips. Phillips went 3 for 4 at the plate, scoring three times and driving in a run. He also made two spectacular plays in the field. The first play was a double play he turned. The ball hit hard to him at second with runners on first and third. He looked the runner at third back, threw to first to get the batter, and the runner moving from first to second was caught in a run down. The other play was a line drive hit over his head that he skyed for and snagged. Phillips is off to a great start.
The win secures another series victory for the Reds (5-0), both of them against Central Division opponents. The Astros remina winless on the year (0-5). Cincinnati looks for another sweep today, but it wont be easy. The Reds send their number 5 starter, Sam LeCure, to the mound against Houston's ace, Brett Myers.
No comments:
Post a Comment