The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Bronson Arroyo tossed yet another gem this evening, going 7 strong innings while allowing just one run, and picked up tonight's JNMHSotG honor in the process. Goodroyo allowed just a single walk and 3 hits over the course of his 90 pitches, and never once appeared to not have control of the game. In essence, it was a vintage performance by the elder statesmen of the pitching staff, one needed badly following yesterday's disappointing outing by Mat Latos.
Honorable Mentions are due to both Shin-Soo Choo and Derrick Robinson, who combined to be on base 5 times in their 10 PAs tonight to set a wonderful table for the RBI-makers in the middle of the lineup.
Somehow, however, Joey Votto managed to get on base at a .400 clip tonight and not drive in a run. I weep for the pain being inflicted on P-Doc's keyboard tonight. Poor little keys never had a chance.
Key Plays
- Shin-Soo is Chooing again, and it's glorious. He led off the Top of the 1st with a single to center, and #2 hitter Zack Cozart...wait, what the...#2 hitter Derrick Robinson followed with a bunt single that moved Choo to 2B. Joey Votto proceeded to not get paid by walking, but RBPI picked up the slack with his 114th RBI single of the season (or so). Seriously, he's got to be on pace to break the modern day record for RBI singles in a season. After Jay Bruce followed with a grounder that the allowed the Braves to turn two, Todd Frazier followed by tripling off B.J. Upton. Seriously. Todd Frazier used Upton's painfully awkward attempted slide as a backboard, and the ricochet allowed Frazier to reach 3B and score Votto. Reds led, 3-0.
- The Reds played add-on in the Top of the 5th. Robinson singled to right to begin things, and Joey Votto followed with an opposite field double to the wall. Braves' starter Kris Medlen was pulled after hitting Phillips with a pitch, and Jay Bruce had an excellent PA against reliever Alex Wood that resulted in a sac fly to right. Reds led, 4-0.
- Bronson Arroyo cruised right along through the first 6 innings, and the only blip he faced all evening was in the Bottom of the 7th when he left a hittable pitch over the plate against Bill Hall All-Star Brian McCann, who bald-bearded it well over the fence in right-field for a solo junk-doink. Bronson passed the torch to Sam LeCure for the 8th, who was spotless, and he handed things off to Aroldis Chapman, who managed to finish things off despite allowing a run on a Freddie Freeman flare single. Reds win, 4-2!
FanGraph Section That Shows the Reds Winning! They Won! They Really Won!
<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-07-12&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=2013-07-12&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>
Other Notes
- One day after Dusty Baker voiced his support of keeping Zack Cozart at the #2 spot in the batting order, he dropped him to 7th in the order. I'm confused. Cozart, of course, responded with a 2 for 4 evening (with a double).
- There's one thing that I can't help but laugh at, regardless of whether it's true or not: Derrick Robinson is succeeding purely because it was the Royals franchise that had him for 6 years.
- Want more tunes? You got it. Have a great weekend, RRs.