(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star(s) of the Game

Ryan Ludwick went 1 for 5 with four men left on base. But [cue MOVIE TRAILER VOICE] the man who counted most was the one who wouldn't be left stranded...himself. Luddy's 2-out machine-wrecker in the bottom of the 10th off of Vincenzo (probably not actually Vincenzo, but it does start with V.) Marte won the game in walk-off fashion.

Mad ups to Mike Leake for six great innings and one shaky one, leaving him with a 6IP 7H 2ER 1B 3K line. His ERA is now below 4.00 for the season. Don't make the mads too up, because he is a short man. The Beaumont Bomber hit a tableux of doubleaux, going 2-5 on the night. BP also went 2-5, and Rolen went 2-4. It's getting real 2010 in here.

Key Plays

• After a quiet first half of the game, the Reds took a lead when El Beeperino hit a singolero, and then Bruce followed that up with a double. 1-0 Reds.
• The Reds strung together a rally...no really! In the very next inning, Rolen led off with a single, then Mesoraco did the same. Leake hit a great sac bunt to move them over, and then Cozart sac flied in Rolen. Stubbs flied out to end the threat.
• The Cardinals came back in the 7th. Yadier Molina tattooed a ball out to the neck of left field to lead off the inning. Freese then singled and Schumaker doubled. The intensity ratcheted up as Berkman came in to pinch-hit, his first AB since May 19. The Reds countered with Sean Marshall. Marshall did his job by striking out the bad man. Unfortunately, Furcal had a skeevy little bunt work out and the Cardinals tied the game at two. Marshall got another grounder, and then Ondrusek came on to get yet another grounder to end the threat.
• I feel much more confident in Ondrusek in the middle of an inning than I do to lead off an inning. I don't know why, but I do. Ondrusek walked the bases loaded in the 8th. With two outs, Matt Carpenter came in to pinch-hit. The Reds countered with the mediocre-so-far Billy Bray. Mike Matheny decided to think, and subbed out Carpenter (lifetime against lefties:.255/.321/.460) for the righthanded Tyler Greene (lifetime against lefties: .224/.310/.373). Tyler hit a pop-foul to end the inning. Welp.
• I took a nap
• Ludwick hit a home run to win the game

Source: FanGraphs

Other Notes

• The Reds will be in first place tomorrow. The Cardinals will be 3.5 out. Sunday's game is at 8pm Eastern. It seems as though Bailey will be starting instead of Cueto, as Johnny has a blister on his hand.
  
• This has been a really exciting series so far, no?
• I am in Vancouver while writing this. Ever wonder if someone made an entire city out of Mount Adams? Welp, that's Vancouver. There's not a single chill bar in this entire golddanged city.
• I don't have as good of musical taste as KMiB does. The Heavy are always a solid choice these days, especially if you imagine that the lead singer is Mike Leake scowlin' a schoolin' schemin' scowl at AC Slider. Link pops.

<!-- BEGIN WIDGET -->

Complete Coverage >