SMAWL BAWL! and HAVOC! pave the way for another Reds win, 6-4 over St. Pujols

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Johnny Cueto.  Cueto went 7 innings of 1 run ball, striking out 3.  He's been studly so far this season, with his third win tonight and taking his ERA down again to 1.59.  He's gone at least 7 innings in his last 4 starts, and hasn't given up more than 1 run in any of them.

Key Plays

• Although Laynce Nix was 0-for-4 at the plate, he got Cueto out of a jam in the second with his stellar defense in LF.  He made two great catches to save at least one run, and those were catches would not have been made by the previous starter at the position.  The second of these catches is the Frisch's Big Boy Big Play of the Game.
• Johnny Cueto was great on the mound, but it was a play on the basepaths that will end up being most memorable from this evening.  Paul Janish was out at 3rd on a play, and Cueto ended up at first, with Cards 2B Skip Schumaker covering the bag.  Noticing that 2nd base was unoccupied while everyone was standing around after the play, Reds first base coach Billy Hatcher sent Cueto to 2nd, and got an extra base out of a weak fielders choice.  After reaching 3rd on a wild pitch, Cueto scored on a single from Jay Bruce, plating an all important insurance run for the Reds.
• Lots of "small ball" was effective for the Reds offense on this night.  The Reds managed to score 6 runs without hitting a HR for the first time this season, and was a feat that they only managed to accomplish 6 times last year.
• Unconvinced?  The Reds second inning: single, single, strikeout, sac bunt, single, single.  3 runs.  Smaw-baw.

Other Notes

• 9 of the Reds 11 hits on the night were singles.  Willy Taveras, Jerry Hairston Jr., Adam Rosales, and Ryan Hanigan all had two hits each.
• Although Laynce Nix was 0-for-4, he showed that he's probably the best defensive LF on the team.
• Ryan Hanigan continues to impress.  He's batting .357 now.  How much more does he have to do force Dusty's hand to play him a little bit more?  Also, he has a GUN behind the plate, throwing out Joe Thurston in the 9th.
• David Weathers gave up his first runs of the season tonight (3 ER in 1/3 IP).  His ERA is still 2.89, which in all honesty, is not too shabby.
• The Reds are now 2.5 back in the division.