The Reds only scored in one inning on Monday night, but they scored 7 in that inning, which was enough to take game 1 of a short two game set with their Central Division rivals.
- Homer Bailey was good again. Not great, but good. Bailey gave the Reds six solid innings, surrendering 4 runs on six hits, while striking out 4 and walking 3. All three of those walks came in the first inning. Bailey walked the bases loaded in the first inning with one out. He struck out the next two batters to strike out the side.
- Bailey was the victim of a lot of bad luck in the fifth inning. Carlos Pena led off with a check swing single up the third base line which was only a hit because the Reds had shifted to the right side for Pena. Koyie Hill followed that with the only solid hit of the inning, a hit and run single to right. Zambrano was next with a high bouncer to Rolen, who threw home wildly, allowing Pena to score. A sinking liner off the end of the bat of Darwin Barney scored Zambrano. The end result, two runs, and only one ball hit hard the whole inning.
- Carlos Zambrano was mowing the Reds down, until the sixth inning. After Miguel Cairo led off the inning by striking out, the Reds had 12 straight runners reach base and scored seven times. After only allowing a hit to Homer Bailey through 5.1 innings, Zambrano's final line looked like this: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.
- Part of that 7 run sixth inning was the first home run from Jonny Gomes since Herbert Hoover was President. Hopefully that wakes his bat up, because the Reds need production from left field and it does not appear Dusty is open to entertaining any other regular options out there other than Gomes.
- The Reds stellar defense was on full display in the eighth inning. With the Cubs trying to find a way to get back in the game, Drew Stubbs threw out Alfonso Soriano at the plate with a laser cannon of an arm; Joey Votto made a spectacular play down the first base line on Carlos Pena; and Edgar Renteria ended the inning with a sparkling play to his right on a hot shot by Koyie Hill. Those three plays kept it a three run deficit going to the ninth.
- The Reds maintain their 1.5 game lead in the NL Central as the Cardinals beat the Phillies 3-1.
Cincinnati (24-17) looks for the mini sweep of the two game series today. Chicago (17-22) sends Matt Garza (2-4, 4.17 ERA) to the mound. The Reds counter with Edinson Volquez ( 3-1, 5.74 ERA) who hopefully has figured out the grip issues he has been dealing with on his pitches.
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