The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Jay Bruce went 3 for 4 with a HR, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Homer Bailey gets the honorable mention nod with a Quality Start, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six, walked two, and didn't allow any HRs. Logan Ondrusek followed with 1 2/3 scoreless. That should've meant the ballgame, but Sean Marshall gave up a 3R HR in the top of the ninth to lose it.
Key Plays
- The bottom of the order scrapped together a couple of runs in the bottom of the second, capped by Homer's RBI single. Reds up, 2-0.
- The Giants got those runs back in the fourth. Following a Brandon Belt single which drove in Pablo Sandoval, the Reds didn't cleanly handle a double-play ball struck by Joaquin Arias. I didn't see it but apparently Zack Cozart got the rookie treatment and was denied the "neighborhood" call, though Marty/Thom got on Brandon's case for not getting the ball to Cozart more smoothly. Ryan Theriot then drove in Buster Posey with a sac fly. 2-all.
- The two-at-a-time scoring continued when Jay Bruce hit a HR int he sixth after a BP infield single. Reds lead, 4-2.
- The teams traded runs in the 7th. The Giants got another sac fly in the top of the frame, and then Scott Rolen boomed his second HR in as many days (hello, Mota). Drew Stubbs had a nice game with two hits but made a foolish baserunning decision after unsuccessfully trying to stretch a double into a triple. Votto followed Stubbs with his only hit of the game. Still, Reds up, 5-3.
- But it wasn't meant to be today. Sean Marshall, pitching for the second consecutive day, had immediate problems in the ninth in allowing the first two batters to reach. Angel Pagan seemingly struck out on an 0-2 pitch, but Blue gave him another chance. Pagan took full advantage, hitting a 3R HR to give the Giants their first lead.
- I'd say that Marshall got squeezed in the matchup with Pagan:
- The Reds went down meekly in the ninth. Santiago Casilla struck out Zack Cozart, Drew Stubbs, and Joey Votto. Joey's gonna forget about this one soon, because that was his third K of the game.
- The Fangraphs looks like the 401(k) statement from hell, c. 2008.
Other Notes
- Before the game, Joey Votto received his second consecutive Tip O'Neill Award from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He's cleaning up in ethnic/nationality awards as of late.
- This was San Francisco's first win at GABP in two seasons.
- Pablo Sandoval got another hit, which keeps his hitting streak for all of 2012 intact.
- You can cross it off your calendar: After his Wednesday start, Bronson Arroyo obtained the coveted 10/5 status (10 years of ML service time, 5 with the same team). So he ain't goin' nowhere without his say-so.
- I should probably note that Mesoraco looked good behind the plate, at least according to Brennamania when I was listening. Meso's making strides as a receiver and game-caller.