Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Juan Francisco. It's very hard to name a star of the game for this one. No one was particularly outstanding. So we'll give it to the only player on either team with multiple hits. Honorable Mentions go to Aroldis Chapman, Kameron Loe, Casey McGehee, and Drew Stubbs.
Key Plays
- Drew Stubbs got the Reds started with some Joe Morgan Ball in the first inning. Mark Rogers walked him, and then Stubbs stole second. Brandon Phillips grounded out, moving Stubbs to third, and Joey Votto hit a sacrifice fly. The Reds got a run without benefit of a hit. Reds lead, 1-0.
- In the fifth inning, Jonny Gomes got a one out single, and then stole second. Ramon Hernandez beat out an infield single and Gomes advanced to third. Then Paul Janish dropped a suicide squeeze bunt and Gomes scored. Reds lead, 2-0.
- Travis Wood had been magnificent for the Reds, but in the top of the sixth he gave up a home run to Rickie Weeks. Reds lead, 2-1.
- Cincinnati immediately got that run back with a leadoff triple by Drew Stubbs off of Jeremy Jeffress in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Phillips then hit a sacrifice fly. Reds lead, 3-1.
- Wood got into trouble in the seventh inning, giving up a one out double to Casey McGehee, then a single to Lorenzo Cain. With runners on the corners, Logan Ondrusek came in to try and slam the door. Instead of his dominant self, Ondrusek gave up a run-scoring single to pinch-hitter Craig Counsell. Cain moved to third on the hit, which was enough to enable him to tag and score on Jonathan Lucroy's foul ball. Game tied, 3-3.
- The game moved into extra innings, and Sam LeCure came in to pitch the eleventh inning. He was ineffective, however, giving up a single to Corey Hart and walking Ryan Braun. Bill Bray came in to face Prince Fielder, and got him to fly out. However, it was long enough that Hart was able to tag up and move to third. It was vitally important to the Brewers that he did so, because Casey McGehee was able to capitalize. Facing Jordan Smith, the third pitcher of the inning, McGehee hit what looked to be a double play ball to end the inning. But Brandon Phillips booted the ball and Hart scored. Brewers win, 4-3.
Other Notes
- The Reds struck out 17 times tonight. They were paced by Jay Bruce and Jonny Gomes, who each earned a golden sombrero with four strikeouts apiece.
- The error was only Brandon Phillips's fourth of the season.
- With the loss, the Reds are assured of facing the Phillies in the NLDS.