Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Homer Bailey. The Reds didn't win, but Bailey deserved the victory. 6 innings pitched, 2 runs, 7 hits, 6 strikeouts, and 0 walks. It's ridiculous that this team keeps wasting good starts by the pitchers.
Key Plays
- Singles by Jerry Hairston Jr. and Joey Votto and a walk by Brandon Phillips loaded up the bases with no outs in the 4th inning. Laynce Nix came through with a single to right field, driving in Hairston and keeping the bases loaded. Ramon Hernandez hit a fly ball to right field, scoring Joey Votto and putting the Reds up to 2-0. Unfortunately, Jay Bruce killed the rally by grounding into a double play.
- The Phillies cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Shane Victorino singled and then stole 2nd base. Ryan Howard singled to drive him in from 2nd, make it a 2-1 ballgame. Bailey had a little more trouble in the inning, but got out of a 1st and 2nd jam by inducing a flyball from Greg Dobbs.
- In the bottom of the sixth, rather than hitting Jayson Werth, Homer Bailey decided to give up a game tying home run, Werth's 19th of the season.
- The Reds mounted a minor threat in the 7th when they had 1st and 2nd with one out, but both Jonny Gomes and Chris Dickerson struck out looking and the Reds failed to score.
- The Phillies had 1st and 2nd with 2 outs in the 8th, but David Weathers struck John Mayberry out looking to end the threat.
- Baker stuck with Weathers in the 9th inning. Weathers gave up a single to Pedro Feliz to lead off the inning, but then managed to get outs from Paul Bako and Eric Bruntlett. He walked Jimmy Rollins though and then gave up the game winning single to Shane Victorino, costing the Reds a shot at taking the series.
Other Notes
- I know people are going to be pissed at Dusty Baker for this game, but the offense is the real culprit. They've now scored 23 runs in their last 8 games. Inexplicably tonight they were aggressive early in the count but then taking pitches with two strikes when clearly the umpire was going to call those corner pitches as strikes. How Brook Jacoby still has a job is beyond me.
- Homer Bailey really did look good tonight. The inkling of hope for him is starting to build momentum.
- Seriously, I hate the offense right now. Every last one of them. Well, except for Joey Votto and his 11-game hitting streak.