Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Jay Bruce. Hova went 3-3 at the dish today with a walk and two RBI. Honorable mentions go Johnny Cueto, Nick Masset, and Francisco Cordero.
Key Plays
- The top of the Reds lineup didn't give the meat much to work with today, so the meat just did for themselves. In the first inning, Joey Votto drew a two out walk. Brandon Phillips singled and Jonny Gomes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jay Bruce hit a single and Votto and Phillips scored to give the Reds an early lead. Reds lead, 2-0.
- Johnny Cueto cruised through the first three innings, but the fourth brought danger. Conor Jackson singled to start things off, and Kurt Suzuki walked. Kevin Kouzmanoff singled, and the bases were loaded with no outs. Gabe Gross then popped a ball up on the infield which Brandon Phillips let drop. For some reason, the infield fly rule was not called and Phillips threw home to get Jackson and Ramon Hernandez threw to third where Miguel Cairo tagged Suzuki to complete the double play. Adam Rosales deliciously struck out looking to ensure the Reds escaped unharmed.
- In the eighth inning, relief pitcher Jerry Blevins walked Votto, then gave way to
Brad Ziegler. Ziegler gave up a single to Phillips and a double to Gomes, which scored Votto. He intentionally walked the red hot Jay Bruce to load the bases with no outs. The gamble paid off as Craig Breslow came in and retired the next three Reds in order. Reds lead, 3-0.
Other Notes
- Joey Votto walked three times, extending his streak of getting on base to 32 straight games. That ties the mark set by Evan Longoria for the longest in the majors this year, and also is the longest such streak for a Red since Austin Kearns reached base 32 straight times in 2003.
- This is the first game the Reds have won in which Scott Rolen did not play.
- The United States won its first World Cup game since beating Mexico 2-0 in 2002, winning 1-0 over Algeria on a 91st minute goal by Landon Donovan. The victory meant that the United States finished top of its group, the only time it has ever done so since 1930. The USA will play Ghana on Saturday at 2:30 pm in its single-elimination Round of 16 matchup. The clean sheet was the first kept by the US in a World Cup since that Mexico game.