The Reds got everything Mat Latos had in his first start of the season for the Padres, and they managed to do just enough to pull out the win in the series opener, 3-2. Latos opened the season on the DL with bursitis in his shoulder, but looked sharp on Monday night, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits over 6 innings. He made two mistakes, one to Jonny Gomes, and one to Chris Heisey, which led to all the Cincinnati scoring.
- Edinson Volquez showed he has the stuff to be a "top of the rotation" starting pitcher, but he again struggled to get out of the first inning. In the opening frame Volquez allowed 2 hits, walked a batter, and plunked Ryan Ludwick to push a run across. A second run scored on a SAC fly by Brad Hawpe, and after one inning the Reds trailed 2-0. After that first inning, Volquez was dominating. He only allowed 3 hits and struck out 5 over the next 5 innings, at one point retiring 11 straight Padre hitters. Pitching Coach Bryan Price needs to do something to shake up Volquez's pre-game routine to get him off to stronger starts. Eventually he will dig a hole that the Reds wont be able climb out of.
- Offense was hard to come by for the Reds, who had only 5 hits on the night. All of their runs came off of home runs, a solo shot by Gomes and a 2 run blast by Heisey. The Reds combined to strike out 12 times against Padre pitching. The only batter in the starting lineup to not strike out was Brandon Phillips.
- After struggling a bit in Arizona, the bullpen got back to its dominating self on Monday night. Jordan Smith, Bill Bray, and Francisco Cordero combined for 3 innings, giving up only 2 hits and 0 runs. Smith looked especially good, throwing strikes and locating his pitches nicely. Smith faced 5 hitters, and threw first pitch strikes to each of them.
The Reds (7-3) look for the road series win tonight against the Padres (4-5). Sam LeCure (0-0, 3.00 ERA) hopes to get some run support. LeCure pitched well his last time out, but did not come away with a win. The Padres send Clayton Richard (1-0, 3.86 ERA) to the mound.
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