Carlos Zambrano single-handedly beats the Reds 2-1, knocks out a garbage can in jubliation

by BK on Jun 5, 2009 11:31 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 7 comments

Carlos Zambrano threatening the Gatorade machine from the pitcher's mound. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Star of the Game

Carlos Zambrano. Big Z shut the Reds offense down, pitching 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He also hit a home run, which turned out to be the winning run.

Key Plays

Micah Owings walked in a run in the 1st to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Carlos Zambrano hit a homer in the 5th to extend the lead.
The Reds mounted a rally in the 8th behind a Brandon Phillips triple that scored Jerry Hairston Jr., our Frischs Big Boy Big Play of the Game.

Other Notes

Chris Dickerson had a really up and down night. He made two impressive diving catches in center field to save runs in the 8th and 9th inning, but popped out with two on in the 9th to end the game.
Jay Bruce broke his slump by going 1-for-2 with two walks. Unfortunately, the only AB where he didn't get on base was with a runner on in the 8th, down a run.
Micah Owings had control problems early, but bounced back to have a pretty solid start. He gave up two runs total in his 6 innings of work, and struck out 6. It's a shame the offense couldn't produce any support for him.
It's Owings' seventh loss of the season, and the first that he's pitched a quality start in. It's also the first quality start he's pitched this season where he hasn't won (out of 3).
Is it just me, or is it pretty surprising that Micah is now tied for the major league lead in losses? Seems like he's getting some tough luck, as Manny Parra and Francisco Liriano, the two guys he's tied with, both have an ERA over 6 while Micah's is under 5 at 4.90.
Laynce Nix, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Chris Dickerson didn't respond well to their new roles in the lineup. They all went 0-for-4. This lineup is missing Votto and Willy badly.

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Comments

the only part of the game i caught

was the beginning of the 8th inning. Cherry walks and BP triples him in, and im pumped. then i come back and it’s over. im kinda glad i missed this one.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 6, 2009 12:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The ninth inning was a lot of fun.

I can see you're not going to agree with me, so let's move on. - Bill Maher

by PeteyHendrix on Jun 6, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nix homered in a meaningless run against Carpenter,

costing my fantasy team a SHO, (though I would’ve preferred Carpenter to implode at the expense of the fake team if it meant we’d have won (in this case, by ‘fake team’ I don’t mean the Reds)), but today he can’t come up with a medium-length fly ball or a slow ground out to plate the tying run.

I’m still sad about that shite at-bat.

He sits alone...Reds are not home.

by Gapper on Jun 6, 2009 2:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

there were a bunch of shitty at bats those last 2 innings

Rosales and Hairston both swung at ball four (Hairston did it twice), and Dickerson, who is normally patient, was a bit too aggressive against a wild Gregg.

The only good at bat in the 9th was Hanigan. It’s rare when he doesn’t have a good one though.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Jun 6, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Hanigan is Bowden's find

Which I assume because of the Rollins connection, then a belated tip of the cap to him. You’re absolutely right about his plate appearances – even when he Ks or grounds out he seems to make the pitcher work for it. He sees about the same pitches per PA as Votto. It’s too bad he couldn’t develop sooner.

by ken on Jun 6, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs