by David Zalubowski - AP

The Giambornstar. -or- "We Greeks invented democracy!" "Yeah, and you also invented homos!" (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Juan Rincon.  After starter Jose Contreras left the game after only three innings, Rincon pitched three innings of scoreless relief, giving up only two hits, striking out five and earning the win.  Former Red Matt Belisle pitched the final two innings, giving up only one hit.

Key Plays

• The Reds got off to a promising start.  Paul Janish got a one-out walk in the first, and consecutive singles by Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips brought him around to score.  Jonny Gomes then walked, loading the bases.  But the lineup's biggest weakness - an abundance of strikeout artists and a lack of RBI men - came to haunt us as Wladimir Balentien and Adam Rosales struck out to end the threat.
• In the third inning, Votto hit a double, and one out later, Gomes hit a single to put runners on the corners.  Once again, Balentien and Rosales struck out.
• The Rockies didn't seem to have a problem bringing in their baserunners.  Clint Barmes singled to start the bottom half of the third, but Jonny Gomes threw him out trying to stretch it into a double.  Jose Contreras grounded out (and strained his quadricep), and Kip Wells was one out away from being in the clear.  But Eric Young, Jr. bunted for a hit and then stole second.  Dusty pointed excitedly and insisted that was what he wanted when he got a Colorado centerfielder.  Carlos Gonzalez walked, then Seth Smith hit an RBI single.  Jason Giambi smashed a ball to centerfield that made Drew Stubbs look foolish and drove in two more runs with a double.  Then Garrett Atkins smashed a two-run homer.  Five runs in one inning, and that was all Colorado needed.
• Jhoulys Chacin relieved the injured Contreras.  You may not believe this, but he is the first player named Jhoulys to play in the majors.
• Drew Stubbs somewhat made up for his miscue on Giambi's ball in the third inning by stealing a home run from him in the eighth.


via FanGraphs

 Other Notes

• Jose Contreras does not have a hit in the majors in 32 regular season plate appearances.  He pitched in two World Series games, but one was in an AL stadium, and the other was a relief appearance and he was pinch hit for.
• Balentien and Rosales both struck out three times.  Rosales has 43 strikeouts and 19 RBI, and Balentien has 65 strikeouts and 21 RBI.  Clearly, those numbers need to be reversed.
• This was Ramon Ramirez's first appearance since May 21.
• It was Joey Votto's 26th birthday.  And he smells like one too!
• Colorado finished the season a perfect 7-0 against Cincinnati.  That's part of the reason they're now only two games behind the Dodgers, despite starting the season 18-28.  Since firing Clint Hurdle, they've gone 63-32 under Jim Tracy.  That's damned impressive.
• Eric Young, Jr. stole two bases, the first two of his career.

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Final - 9.10.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati Reds	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	0
Colorado Rockies	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	X	5	7	0
WP: Juan Rincon (3 - 2) LP: Kip Wells (1 - 4)

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