Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Jay Bruce. Hova finally hit his first home run of the season, and then went ahead and hit his second. Good job, Jay!
Key Plays
- Bronson Arroyo started the game well, throwing a no-hitter through the first three innings. All of the excitement over Ubaldo Jimenez's feat last night might have caused him to feel slightly too good about himself, because the fourth inning was a doozy. Delwyn Young, last seen in the Black Cauldron, singled to begin the inning and moved to second one out later on Lastings Milledge's single. Garrett Jones walked, loading the bases. Ryan Church hit a line drive to shortstop that Orlando Cabrera deflected into center field, and Young scored. On an 0-2 count, Arroyo hit Bobby Crosby to force in Milledge. Jason Jaramillo then hit a bases clearing double to left field that Jonny Gomes couldn't track down. Five runs had scored in the inning, and the Pirates would never score again. They wouldn't need to. Pirates lead, 5-0.
- Jay Bruce hit his first home run of the year to lead off the fifth inning. This failed to inspire his teammates who then popped out, struck out, and struck out. The home run did land only one section away from the traveling Red Reporter contingent. Pirates lead, 5-1.
- In the seventh inning, Jonny Gomes singled and doubles machine Paul Janish hit a double to bring him around. Pirates lead, 5-2.
- With two outs in the ninth inning, Bruce hit his second home run. Then Chris Dickerson struck out and everyone went home. Pirates win, 5-3.
Other Notes
- This is the first time the Reds have been swept by the Pirates since April 11-13, 2008. The Pirates only swept three three-game series all last season. This is the first time since 1992 that the Pirates have won their first two series at home.
- If St. Louis loses tonight, the Pirates will be tied for first place in the division.
- Reds leadoff hitters through yesterday's game were posting a slash line of .170/.264/.277 (Stubbs went 0-3 with a walk today). For comparison, last year's leadoff hitters went .254/.302/.348, and in 2008, they went .266/.326/.423. Every year we say center field (the de facto leadoff position) can't get worse, and every year it finds a way.
- Mike Lincoln pitched two scoreless innings. He's pitched 5.2 innings over his last three appearances, and the only run he surrendered was actually an inherited runner that scored while Danny Ray Herrera was pitching.
- Jay Bruce's last multihomer game was Sept. 29, 2009 against St. Louis.