Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Joey Votto. Giving Jo-eh the Carson treatment on this one after he goes 3-for-4 with 2 runs, an RBI, a double, and a stolen base.
Key Plays
- The Reds loaded the bases in the first on an infield single by Orlando Cabrera, and outfield single by Joey Votto, and a walk by Brandon Phillips. Jonny Gomes got the Reds on the board with a sacrifice fly that Chris Welsh called "as good as a walk." It wasn't as the ensuing ground out by Jay Bruce ended the inning instead of possibly driving in another run. Reds lead, 1-0.
- The lead was short-lived. Three batters into the bottom of the first inning, the Pirates had tried it. Andrew McCutchen hit a one-out single that was immediately followed by a double from Lastings Milledge, driving in McCutchen. One out later, Ryan Doumit walked and Delwyn Young doubled to drive in Milledge and give the Pirates the lead. After an intentional walk, Cueto got out of the inning with a strikeout of pitcher Daniel McCutchen. Pirates lead, 2-1.
- The Pirates added on another run with a lead-off home run from Ronny Cedeno in the second inning. Pirates lead, 3-1.
- The Reds' hitters didn't close up shop though. One out into the top of the third inning, Cabrera doubled and then scored on Votto's double. Consecutive walks to Phillips and Gomes loaded the bases. Jay Bruce, who has become comfortable with making outs this season, decided to make an out when it would score a run at least. A sacrifice fly to center plated Votto and tied the game at three. Ramon Hernandez went quietly to end the inning.
- The game remained tied until the top of the fifth, when Votto hit a one-out single and then stole second base. Phillips followed with a double to drive in Votto. BP was then thrown out trying to steal third base and Gomes struck out to end the inning. Reds lead, 4-3.
- That's where the score stood until the 9th inning after 3 solid innings of relief from the bullpen. Then came Cordero. Francisco Cordero was disastrous on this night. A one-out base hit by Ryan Church was followed by consecutive walks to Cedeno and Akinori Iwamura. CoCo looked like he might scrape his way out of the jam when he induced a flyball from Andrew McCutchen that was just shallow enough to prevent the runner from scoring. However, a walk to Milledge drove in the tying run, and then on a 3-2 count to Garrett Jones, CoCo grooved a fastball that Jones drove to the wall in center field, giving the Pirates a 5-4 victory.
Other Notes
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Johnny Cueto was wild early in the game, but calmed down enough to battle his way through five innings. Perhaps if he had not thrown 33 pitches in the first inning, he could have made it deeper into the game. It's a recurring theme for the right-hander.
- Cueto left the game in line for the victory. He didn't get it and Reds starters still don't have a win.
- Reds pitchers walked 9 batters on the day. They are now tied with the Washington Nationals for 2nd most walks in the NL behind the Dodgers.
- Ramon Hernandez threw out Andrew McCutchen as he tried to steal second to end the seventh inning. It was the first time this season that the Pirates had been thrown out trying to steal.
- Reds 2-thru-4 hitters went a combined 6-for-10 with 4 runs, 2 RBI, and 2 BB. The rest of the Reds lineup was 0-for-20 with a walk.