Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Joey Votto and Arthur Rhodes. Votto didn't do much this game, though he did have an RBI to tie the game at 3-3. Rhodes also had an uneventful night. But both kept their streaks alive, so they get the award. Votto has now reached base safely via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch in 34 straight games, the most by a Reds player since Dave Collins in 1981. Rhodes made hiss 33rd consecutive scoreless appearance, tying the big league record held by Mark Guthrie and Mike Myers. On a night that was a total team effort, we'll give these guys some glory.
Key Plays
- The Indians struck quickly and took the lead in the first after a one-out walk to Shin-Soo Choo was followed by Carlos Santana's smooth double. Indians lead, 1-0.
- The lead was short-lived as Brandon Phillips led off the bottom of the inning with a single. He was replaced on the base paths by Orlando Cabrera on a fielder's choice. One out later, Scott Rolen singled in Cabrera from first. I was at Chick-Fil-A at the time, so I have no idea how that went down. Game tied, 1-1.
- Reds starter Sam LeCure was shaky on this night, putting 2 runners on in each of the first 4 innings, but he held the Indians at bay until the fourth when Jhonny Peralta singled and then went to third on Jayson Nix's double. Anderson Hernandez, who does not appear to have any superfluous letters in his name, followed with a ground rule double, driving both of the base runners in. After a strikeout of the pitcher and a walk to Trevor Crowe, LeCure's day was done. In marched Micah Owings, who promptly induced a ground ball double play from Choo to end the threat. Indians lead, 3-1.
- That's where things stood until the bottom of the fifth when Drew Stubbs singled to start the inning and went to second on a botched pick-off play. One out later, he scored on a single by Owings, who moved to third when consecutive walks to Phillips and Cabrera loaded the bases. Votto grounded out to Russell Branyan, but it was enough to get the run and even the game back up. Austin Kearns made a dandy play on a flyball from Rolen to end the inning. Game tied, 3-3.
- Flames of excitement sparked again the bottom of the sixth when Jay Bruce led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Laynce Nix, never one to be outdone by his brother, singled to drive in the go ahead run. A Stubbs walk and a Ramon Hernandez sacrifice bunt moved runners to 2nd and 3rd. Miguel Cairo sacrificed himself for his team by flying out to drive in Nix. Phillips selfishly followed with a single to drive in Stubbs. Phillips then got thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning. Reds lead, 6-3.
- The Indians' bats were held quiet until the 9th inning when Francisco Cordero came on the give the fans their money's worth. With one out, Crowe singled and an out later, Santana walked just like the ocean under the moon. Kearns singled to left to drive in Crowe and fans collectively clinched their buttox. However, CoCo decided that he had had enough fun for the night and after getting Shelley Duncan to a full count, struck him out to end the game. Reds win, 6-4.
Other Notes
- If you count reaches on error, Joey Votto has touched first base safely in 51 straight games. The Reds record (going back to 1952) is 52 straight by Frank Robinson in 1961 and Don Blasingame in 1962-1963.
- The win marked the Reds 5th straight. It is their third separate winning streak of 5 games this season and it is the 6th such streak since last August. They had only 6 separate winning streaks of at least 5 games in the previous 4.5 seasons. Scott Rolen's Reds, indeed.
- This win clinched a winning interleague record for the regular season. They are 8-6 with one more game to play against the American League until the World Series.
- The Reds have won the Ohio Cup now for the third straight season and fourth time overall.
- The Reds have 42 wins in their first 75 games for the first time since 1999 when they were 44-31 at this point in the season.
- This is the latest in the season that the Reds have been 9 games over .500 since 2000 when they were 85-76 going into the last game of the season.
- The Cardinals beat the Royals, but the Reds are still in first place!