Reds make thrilling late season run towards mediocrity, sweep Astros 6-5.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 16, 2009 11:21 PM EDT in Game Threads

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Jeff Fulchino. He threw the wild pitch that allowed Joey Votto to score the winning run. Votto, Brandon Phillips, Drew Stubbs, and Wladimir Balentien all had big games as well.

Key Plays

The Astros made some plays and there was some exciting defense, but they lost so screw them. They're not getting recapped anymore.
Jonny Gomes hit a home run in the second inning to give the Reds the lead.
Drew Stubbs hit a home run in the third, then Joey Votto walked, went to third on Phillips's single, and scored on Scott Rolen's sacrifice fly. Two runs! Tie game!
Wladimir Balentien hit a double to lead off the fourth inning. He moved to third on Craig Tatum's sacrifice fly, and scored when Justin Lehr bunted to the pitcher, and Yorman Bazardo threw it away. Reds lead, 4-3!
Balentien scored again in the sixth inning. He singled, and Tatum bunted him to second. After Jay Bruce struck out, Drew Stubbs singled to bring in Balentien. Tie game!
Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips singled to begin the seventh inning, putting runners on the corners. Scott Rolen came up and struck out, but not before Jeff Fulchino threw a wild pitch and Votto crossed the plate with the winning run.

via FanGraphs

Other Notes

The Reds are only three games out of fourth place. Here we come!
Jeff Keppinger hit two home runs - in the same game! It was the first time he'd ever done that.
This was the second series against the Astros that the Reds have swept in Cincinnati this season. The Reds have won seven in a row against the 'Stros.
The Astros hit five home runs off of Justin Lehr, which tied a club record. The last Reds pitcher to give up five homers was Brandon Claussen on July 18, 2005.
Jonny Gomes became the third Red to reach the 20 homer mark. He's only one behind Joey Votto for the club lead.
Juan Francisco drew a walk. ZOMG! His ML walk rate of 50% is blowing away his minor league numbers.
Coco Cordero has pitched - and gotten a save in - the last three days and four of the last five. Let's hope for a blowout tomorrow.

Final - 9.16.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston Astros	0	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	5	12	1
Cincinnati Reds	0	1	2	1	0	1	1	0	X	6	11	0
WP: Jared Burton (1 - 0) SV: Francisco Cordero (37) LP: Wesley Wright (3 - 3)

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Comments

What the hell am I going to do

now that the Reds aren’t playing a team in Texas?

Needless to say, this didn't work and everybody died.

by SullivanSmith on Sep 16, 2009 11:28 PM EDT reply actions

You screwed up

Hal should be the JNMHSofG. Just sayin’.

"I'm going to become rich and famous after I invent a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet"

by jch24 on Sep 16, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

I feel like we need to honor Hal on a more permanent basis.

I mean, we have the JNMHSotG. Perhaps we could have the HMHBRSotD? (Hal McCoy honorary Best Reposter Story of the Day).

Just a thought.

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Sep 17, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

noted

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 17, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe a gossip section to the Reposter?

Hal McCoy’s Blind Item.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 17, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

XOXO, Gossip Hal

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Sep 17, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Tonight Keppinger sure showed Rosales who's the boss.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Sep 17, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

Good recap

This is the second game I’ve seen recently that hinged on a wild pitch. When you have trouble getting in runners from third, wild pitches are great.

Side note—Votto did well again (2-2) hopefully he’s out of the woods. Tet Fay posted something about it. Based on the title of the post, he obviously has good taste:

VOTTO HOTTO: Joey Votto seems to have shaken his slump.

The first baseman singled in the first inning of Wednesday’s game to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

He was hitting .391 (9-for-23) in his six games before Wednesday.

by Red_Poodle on Sep 17, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

Claussen has an SB nation player page, who knew?

Brendan congrats on being SB’s top Claussen contributor!!!

The Reds need a new manager, one like Putin.

by justin007000 on Sep 17, 2009 1:13 AM EDT reply actions

Maloney is pitching tomorrow because Cueto is sick

i thought the Reds were skipping Maloney because of his blister, but apparently he is ok. SO WHY THE FUCK IS HE ROTTING IN THE BULLPEN WHEN JUSTIN LEHR GETS A START!!! This is why I wish I could quit this team, because right now is a time for Maloney to gain some low leverage experience, and the Reds can see what he can do. But fucking blow me no, they stick with Justin Lehr and Kip Wells, because you know they are the fucking future. I really wish I could just walk away from the Reds. I’ve been trying since 2003, but I always get sucked back in.

The Reds need a new manager, one like Putin.

by justin007000 on Sep 17, 2009 2:58 AM EDT reply actions

Not to mention the fact that Owings may be relegated to the bullpen permenantly

I’m not sure how much these little moves mean for next year in the last half month of this lost season, but I have the sinking feeling that at the very least one of: Taveras, McDonald, Lehr, Wells or Rosales will be on the team next year. And maybe back-up catcher is a small matter, but Dusty’s general lack of faith in Hanigan is concerning. Over a full season, I think Hanigan could put up the kind of numbers All Star Yadier Molina did this year and with even a slightly better CS%.

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 17, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually don't have a problem with Owings in the bullpen

i think he could have a solid career as a middle reliever.

The Reds need a new manager, one like Putin.

by justin007000 on Sep 17, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Did anyone catch Cowboy's comment about Rolen?

After Votto scored on the WP, Cowboy went on and on about how “This is what a veteran guy like Rolen brings to a team!!!!!”

Really? It takes great veteraniness to induce a wild pitch? I guess I need to learn more about the game.

"You never know how you look through other people's eyes"

by sidnancy on Sep 17, 2009 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

by Man Mountain on Sep 17, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Watching the game with a fellow red fan, we both asked each other did you just hear that when “the Cowboy” made the inane comment about Rolen and the wild pitch.

by mariosoto on Sep 17, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions