Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Mat Latos. The new guy pitched seven innings and only gave up one run. In fact, he only gave up one hit, and one walk while striking out four and only using 86 pitches.
Key Plays
- Before the game, Madville boldly predicted that Aaron Harang would give up five runs in five innings. Well, Harang is something of an overachiever. After getting Tony Gwynn, Jr. to pop out, he gave up a scrappy double to David Eckstein (Jonny Gomes, assist). Then lone San Diego offensive threat Adrian Gonzalez hit a home run, stinging us yet again. Ye gods. Wait, did I say lone offensive threat? Kevin Kouzmanoff singled, Chase Headley drew a walk, and then Kyle Blanks hit his fourth home run of the season. Mads's prediction of five runs had already come to pass!
- In the first inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
- In the second inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
- In the third inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
- In the fourth inning the Reds didn't get a... WAIT! They did get a hit! Jerry Hairston, Jr. got his 8th home run of the season. Matt Holliday, who?!
- In the fifth inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
- In the sixth inning the Reds drew a walk!
- In the seventh inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
- Harang started the 8th inning despite losing 5-1 and having thrown 115 pitches. Rather predictably, he walked Kouzmanoff and Headley singled. Josh Roenicke came in to relieve him, and did get two outs. But then Everth Cabrera doubled to bring in Kouzmanoff, and pinch runner Eliezer Alfonzo scored on a wild pitch. Seven earned runs for Harang.
- In the eighth inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
- In the ninth inning the Reds didn't get a hit.
(Ok, I can't get FanGraphs to open, but as you can imagine, the Win Probability was pretty much 100% for the Padres right from the beginning.)
Other Notes
- This was the first time in a month the Padres won back to back games. Of course, the Reds haven't won consecutive games since July 1-2.
- Harang's 12 losses are the most in the majors. W-L record doesn't really mean much, but still, wow. He's lost his last 8 decisions, the longest such streak by a Reds pitcher since Danny Graves in 2003.
- Jerry Hairston's homer means that he has tied his career high for dingers.
- Adrian Gonzalez, like Jayson Werth before him, has homered in every game of this series. Prior to the Padres trip to Cincinnati, he had only one homer in his last 23 games and 2 in his last 30.
- Joey Votto twice came to the plate with two outs and no one on. Of course, that happened in every inning but one tonight.
- Is it irony when the all-time hits leader is watching you, and all your team can muster is one hit?
If you'd like to listen to the award winning Red Reporter post game show, you can take a listen right here: