Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Jonny Gomes. I'm so in the tank for this guy, you'd think I was obc. Gomes went 2-3 with a walk, hitting two solo homers that proved to be the margin of victory. Props to Joey Votto for getting the team fired up.
Key Plays
- The game started out beautifully as Willy Taveras reached on a fielding error and Alex Gonzalez singled. Then Votto, unaccustomed to seeing runners on base, tried to check his swing on a third strike. The ump said he went around, Votto said that was fucking horseshit, and Dusty just kinda sat there. Votto got tossed, but he left the spirit of vengeance in the clubhouse. Brandon Phillips immediately went all Ghost Rider and hit a three run homer.
- Willy Taveras threw out Kyle Blanks at the plate in the second. Wha?!
- Jonny Gomes homered to lead off the Reds half of the second. Homer Bailey was staked to a four run lead against the light-hitting Padres. Cautious optimism crept into the fans.
- Willy Taveras threw out Adrian Gonzalez at third base in the fourth. Clearly the time traveling toaster has altered the past and returned us to a world not our own. This is indeed a disturbing universe.
- Edwin led off the Reds half of the fourth with a home run into the upper deck.
- In the fifth inning, the Padres finally got on the board. Kyle Blanks doubled, then came home on a single by Luis Rodriguez.
- Back to back homers by Everth Cabrera and Adrian Gonzalez made it a 5-3 game. Red Reporters shifted nervously in their seats.
- GOMES! In the bottom of the sixth, Gomes hit his second homer of the night and tenth of the year to put the Reds back up by three.
- And so it would stay until Coco Cordero allowed a home run to Kevin Kouzmanoff before retiring the side. Reds win!
via FanGraphs
Other Notes
- This was Cordero's first save since July 19, and only his second since July 8.
- Votto had been thrown out once before for arguing a called third strike, on July 12 against the Mets. Different umpiring crew, for those of you who are persecution minded.
- Our outfield featured a player who finished second in Rookie of the Year voting (Taveras), a player who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting (Gomes), and a guy who spells his name with a Y. On the injured list are Jay Bruce (5th, RoY) and Chris Dickerson and Ryan Hanigan, who should have gotten consideration this year. Joey Votto of course finished second in RoY voting last year. Mostly I'm including this because I was unaware Gomes had finished so high, but it's worth remembering that we do have some good young talent on this team.
- Homer Bailey tied a career high with 7.1 innings. He has a non-losing record for the first time since the end of his debut season.