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The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Zack Cozart, because he's all anyone will want to talk about anyway. Cozart was technicaly 1 for 4, but the official scorer - who was every bit as confused tonight as home plate umpire Andy Fletcher - could have easily have ruled him 2 for 4.
It was that kind of game, and nearly that kind of game thread. Sue me.
Honorable Mentions are due to: Brandon Phillips, who went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI; Shin-Soo Choo, who went 2 for 4 with a walk and 3 runs scored; Joey Votto, who went 1 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly; and both Logan Ondrusek and Alfredo Simon, who each went 2 innings fom the bullpen, neither allowing a run or a walk.
Key Plays
- Runs came early and often in this one, as the Reds struck early against Braves' starer Tim Hudson. In the Top of the 1st, Choo singled to lead off, stole 2B, and advanced to 3B on a throwing error by C Brian McCann. Joey Votto then walked, and Phillips and Jay Bruce followed with RBI singles. Reds led, 2-0.
- In the Bottom of the 1st, however, Andrelton Simmons and Jason Heyward singled off of Mat Latos, and Freddie Freeman then doubled to score them both. Later, with 2 outs in the Bottom of the 2nd, Jason Heyward reached on what was initially called an error on Joey Votto (that was later rescinded, but shouldn't have been), Justin Upton reached on an infield single that featured Votto making two more misplays (a lack of a stretch on the throw and a subsequent errant throw to 3B), and Freeman got to bat and contributed an RBI single. Latos deserved better, that that had him in the hole, 3-2.
- A Choo (bless you!) double started things for the Reds in the top of the 3rd, and he came in to score after a Cozart sac bunt and a Votto sac fly to tie things at 3. In the Bottom of the 4th, however, the Braves busted things open. Simmons walked, Reed Johnson (who had come on to replace the injured Jason Heyward) tripled, Justin Upton doubled, and Freddie Freeman singled. When Latos finally got the third out, the trouble was already evident. Reds trailed, 6-3.
- Unfortunately, a Joey Votto run-scoring infield single in the Top of the 5th that led to a run on a Chris Johnson throwing error and an 8th inning run on an RBI double by Phillips were all the Red could muster. Reds lose, 6-5.
FanGraph Section That You Should Should Skip Over To Preserve Your Sanity and Continue Talking About How Bad the Reds' 7th Best Hitter Is
<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-07-11&team=Braves&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-07-11&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>
Other Notes
- Cleanup hitter Brandon Phillips...All-Star Starting 2B Brandon Phillips...doubled tonight, and it was just his 2nd extra base hits in his last 57 PA.
- The Reds will have to win 3 games in a row in Atlanta at the end of this series to avoid not winning a series for their 6th time in 7 series.
- A spark. This team neads a spark.
- I'm not saying this team is going to hell in a bucket, but if they are, it's high time to lighten up and enjoy the ride. Yeah, Zack Cozart shouldn't be hitting 2nd in the lineup. We get it. Paul Daugherty shouldn't be writing articles for the Enquirer, either. Best case scenario for psyches everywhere? Let it be.