Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Brandon Phillips. For the second day in a row, our leadoff man collected four hits, including a triple that drove in two runs to tie the game. He also scored twice, including the winning run. Honorable mentions go to Aubrey Huff and Arthur Rhodes.
Key Plays
- This was an ugly, sloppy game. Mike Leake was not sharp today and the Giants jumped on him early. Leake did strike out the first two batters, but Pablo Sandoval singled, and he huffed and puffed around to score when Aubrey Huff doubled into the right field corner. Giants lead, 1-0.
- The Giants doubled their lead in the second inning, on a home run by Aaron Rowand. Giants lead, 2-0.
- It was Aubrey Huff's turn to go deep in the third inning. Juan Uribe followed that up with a double, and Buster Posey singled to put runners on the corners. Mike Leake almost had Posey picked off, but Joey Votto dropped the ball. Then Bengie Molina singled, scoring Uribe and Rowand walked, loading the bases with one out. Todd Wellemeyer grounded a ball to second which Phillips turned into a nifty double play to end the inning. Worse for the Giants, Wellemeyer was injured running to first and had to leave the game. Giants lead, 4-0.
- Denny Bautista was pressed into emergency relief service, and even though he took plenty of time to warm up, it seems like he still wasn't prepared. He walked Mike Leake, Brandon Phillips singled, and Paul Janish reached on a bunt. Bases loaded, no outs, and the heart of the order coming to bat. Joey Votto walked to force in a run, Scott Rolen hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Phillips, and Jonny Gomes beat out an infield hit that drove in Janish. Jay Bruce singled to drive in Votto and tie the game, but Drew Stubbs struck out and Ramon Hernandez flied out. Game tied, 4-4.
- With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Juan Uribe grounded into a slick inning ending double play, Janish to Phillips to Votto.
- The Giants chased Leake from the game in the fifth inning after singles by Posie and Molina. A fielder's choice from Rowand put runners on the corners and Enerio del Rosario came in to face pinch hitter Pat Burrell. Burrell hit a sharp grounder right at Scott Rolen, but it went under his glove and through his legs as Molina scored the go-ahead run. Andres Torres walked and the bases were loaded, but once again San Francisco hit into an inning ending double play, this time off the bat of Freddy Sanchez. Giants lead, 5-4.
- Nick Masset was pitching the seventh inning for the Reds, and things went as they've been going for Masset. He hit Rowand with a pitch, and Eli Whiteside beat out an infield single. Torres sacrificed them both up a base, and Freddy Sanchez singled to drive in Rowand and put runners on the corners. Arthur Rhodes came in in relief and caught Whiteside in a rundown on a botched suicide squeeze. Pablo Sandoval fouled out to end the inning. Rhodes is amazing. Giants lead, 6-4.
- But hey, the Reds don't have the only ineffective bullpen. Guillermo Mota came in to pitch the Giants eighth and got in trouble right away. Ramon Hernandez singled to open the inning and went to third on Chris Heisey's double. Then Star of the Game Brandon Phillips hit a triple into the right field corner and the game was tied! Laynce Nix lined out, but then Joey Votto singled and the Reds had their first lead of the game, with Scott Rolen coming to bat. Votto and Mota began jawing at each other, which must have rattled Joey. He took off at the crack of the bat, but it turned out to be an easy fly ball. Joey was already around second base and was easily doubled up. No matter. Reds win, 7-6.
Other Notes
- Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth inning, the only time the Giants went down in order. Cordero's 17th save of the season brings him into a tie with Bob Wickman for 25th place on the all-time saves list at 267. He needs 19 more to catch Rod Beck.
- Game time was 3:28.
- Mike Leake still has not lost a decision. It's June 10.
- Speaking of June 10, it's the latest the Reds have been in first place in a season since June 17, 2002. The Reds were not yet playing in Great American Ball Park then.
- Reds leadoff hitters are 8-10 in the last two games.
- Brandon Phillips has a 13 game hitting streak, in which he is batting .441.
- The Giants reached base 23 times: 13 hits, 8 walks, 1 ROE, and 1 HBP.