The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Nothing like getting back to back complete game, 1 run efforts from the two pitchers on the staff who have "struggled" the most this season. "Struggled" is in quotes for Latos, because while he's had several starts that were well below par for his career, he's also managed to lower his season WHIP to 1.23, not far off his career mark of 1.18, and sits at 7-2 on the season (having won his last 7 decisions, a career high). Today's CG, 7 K, 0 BB, 2 hit effort certainly helped those numbers, and if his last two starts are an indication of what's to come (18 IP, 2 CG, 6 hits total, 20 K, 2 BB), we're in for a treat down the stretch of this season.

Honorable mention to Zack "MVP/GG" Cozart, who was 2 for 4 with a double, walk, and run scored, and for Old Man Cairo, who was summoned off the bench to replace Joey Votto and pitched in with an RBI single that proved to be the winning run.

Key Plays

• Other than some bad baserunning by Jay Bruce, nothing much happened on the offensive side of things until the 4th inning. Even then, nothing much happened from the Reds perspective, but Barry Zito helped out with consecutive walks to Ryan Ludwick, Todd Frazier, and Ryan Hanigan, the last of which scored Brandon Phillips, who had singled. Reds lead, 1-0.
• In the Top of the 5th, Joey Votto hit a soft grounder to third base, yet jogged slowly to first base. Though it was initially reported that Votto was in pain with knee inflammation, it was later found that he merely was asked by Atlas to lend him a knee for bit. Votto saw how dominant Mat Latos was this afternoon and, ever the generous worldly scholar, opted to help keep the world upright for a few days. Miguel Cairo was tasked with filling in at 1B, and in his first attempt to pick up the slack, he delivered an RBI single to score Cozart, who had doubled, in the Top of the 7th. Reds lead, 2-0.
• Some dude did something for the Giants in the 9th that ultimately didn't matter but also busted up a Reds pitcher's CG shutout attempt. Again. But, you know what? The Reds won. Again. 2-1!
• 

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• This was the first time a Reds pitcher has thrown CGs in consecutive starts since Aaron Harang in 2006. This is also the first time that Reds pitchers have had CGs in back to back Reds games since I don't know when. Where the hell is Slyde when you need him? What's that? He's on vacation?! Slacker.
• The Reds picked the right time to head to the Weezt Coast. It was 70 degrees and partly cloudy at game's end.
• The Giants will celebrate their 2002 World Series Runner-Up team tomorrow, conveniently when both Dusty and Darren Baker will be in town to celebrate with them. Barry Bonds and his super-noggin were in the stands today to see Latos whip the Giants.
• I predict that Votto will sit tomorrow, and that this will be the starting lineup: Cozart SS, Stubbs CF, Bruce RF, Phillips 2B, Rolen 3B, Frazier 1B, Heisey LF, Hanigan C, Arroyo P.
• No walks by Latos means this song of the day!