Welcome to just the fourth Reds' playoff game thread in Red Reporter history. I'm going to echo the simple advice Joel gave in 2010:
Unless you are a Yankees fan, the playoffs are rare. Don't let them pass by with the assumption that we'll be there next year. Soak it in. Enjoy it.
We've been through the marathon of the season. We've agonized over how each move gets the team closer or further from October. We've analyzed this series from every angle. Then we made fun of it. All that's left is to let it happen. And have fun while it does.
Quite possibly the Reds' best pitcher in a generation will be on the mound for the Reds' second playoff appearance since 1995. Fans are hungry for the first post-season win since October of that year. The team is hungry to make a much larger impression than it did two years a go. I'm going to make sure I have plenty of snacks.
Go Reds! They're my favorite team. Big time.
REDS LINEUP
Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
Zack Cozart (R) SS
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Ryan Ludwick (R) LF
Jay Bruce (L) RF
Scott Rolen (R) 3B
Ryan Hanigan (R) C
Drew Stubbs (R) CF
Johnny Cueto (R) P
REDS BENCH
Dioner Navarro (S) C
Todd Frazier (R) CI/LF
Miguel Cairo (R) IF
Wilson Valdez (R) SS
Chris Heisey (R) OF
Xavier Paul (L) OF
GIANTS LINEUP
Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
Buster Posey (R) C
Hunter Pence (R) RF
Brandon Belt (L) 1B
Gregor Blanco (L) LF
Brandon Crawford (L) SS
Matt Cain (R) P