Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Joey Votto. Paul Janish had a nice game and a clutch double. Justin Lehr pitched well after the first inning and got a walk to spark the Reds' big inning. But the Irresistable Force went 3-4 with a walk, a double and a home run. He had two runs scored and two RBI.
Key Plays
- Remember how we give up lots of runs in the first inning? Well, we gave up lots of runs in the first inning. With one out, Lehr walked Jody Gerut and gave up a single to Ryan Braun. Then Lehr, has has admitted that he's lost some velocity over the years, tried to sneak a fastball past Prince Fielder. Nope. A souvenir for some lucky fan and a 3-0 lead for the Brewers. Lehr didn't get any sharper, walking Casey McGehee and giving up a run scoring double to Mike Cameron. The Reds were down 4-0 in the first, and you could be excused for thinking the game was over.
- The Brewers got a few more hits and walks, but Lehr managed to be effective after the first inning and keep them off the scoreboard. Then in the fourth inning, Paul Janish doubled to break up the no-hitter, and Joey Votto brought him around to score with a double of his own. RALLY CAPS, BITCHES!
- Two outs in the fifth, and Justin Lehr had a nice, long, professional at bat to draw a walk. "If I can eat up a few more pitches then he's done," Lehr said. "Obviously, it turned out a lot better than that." From the mouths of babes. Er, 32 year old Volquez-style rookies. Drew Stubbs singled and Janish hit his second double of the game, driving in two runs. Dave Bush intentionally walked Joey Votto and Mike DiFelice came in to pitch to Brandon Phillips. The two-faced, attention-loving, divisive Phillips half-assed a double to deep right field and Janish came in to tie the game. Then Scott Rolen, Bronson Arroyo's raison d'etre, singled up the middle, driving in Votto and Phillips. A five run inning, and the Reds were leading 6-4!
- The Reds weren't done and Jonny Gomes singled to lead off the sixth inning. With one out, Lehr sacrificed him to second, and rookie Drew Stubbs singled to bring him in. Stubbs just might be getting comfortable in the bigs, and wow, that's a lot of two out RBIs in this game.
- Chris "Chronicles of" Narveson came in to pitch in the seventh, and Joey Votto promptly homered off his ass. It was Votto's 20th of the season, and the fourth straight inning in which the Reds scored a run.
- Lehr was going strong but was over 100 pitches as he started the eighth inning. He got two quick outs, but then Mike Cameron homered to make things a save situation.
- Save situation? Coco to the rescue! Cordero did his best David Weathers impression by sandwiching walks to Craig Counsell and Jody Gerut around a couple of groundouts. That brought Ryan Braun to the dish representing the tying run, but Coco struck his sissy t-shirt wearing azz out like a busta! That's where the Weathers impression fell apart. Reds win! Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
via FanGraphs
Other Notes
- Mike Cameron's home run was his 19th of the year. Were you aware that since he was traded for Ken Griffey, Jr., Cameron had more home runs than Grif did with the Reds (216 to 210)?
- Dusty was a little flummoxed by Lehr's walk in the fifth. "He fouled off a number of pitches, got a walk and [it] didn't appear as much at the time, but then we got some hits and got some more hits," manager Dusty Baker said. "I can't tell you the last time we came back in a game like that, but we got some big two-out hits." Imagine that, Dusty. A walk proving to be valuable.
- This four game winning streak is tied for the longest of the season. From May 24-27, we beat Cleveland and swept the Astros. Conversely, we've had six streaks this season of four losses or more.
- The Brewers are a season low five games under .500.
- Prince Fielder's home run in the first gave him 115 RBI, most in the majors. Fielder's having a great season, and had the third highest OPS in the majors going into this game. Former Red Adam Dunn had the fifth highest, and future Red Hanley Ramirez was fourth.