Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Johnny Cueto. Though his control looked shaky to start, Cueto spun a DIPS-defying gem, throwing 8 innings of one run ball. Overall he allowed only six hits, two walks and no home runs while striking out none. Brandon Phillips and Orlando Cabrera gave him some help on the defensive end. Honorable mention to Scott Rolen and Joey Votto for doing what they do.
Key Plays
- Kyle Kendrick actually held the Reds hitless through 3. With one out in the fourth, Orlando Cabrera doubled but soon took himself out by trying to steal third. But Joey Votto followed with a double and Scott Rolen hit his 300th career home run to give the Reds a 2-0 lead.
- The Reds struck again in the sixth. Cueto reached on an error by Utley and was followed by singles from Phillips and Cabrera to load the bases with no outs. A Votto single and Rolen sac fly plated another two runs. Reds lead 4-0.
- The Phillies scored their first run in the seventh. Though Cueto was helped by his defense throughout the game, it let him down here when Ryan Howard hit a triple to deep center that was misplayed by Stubbs. Raul Ibanez then singled him home. Reds lead 4-1.
- But the Reds got the run back plus one in the bottom of the seventh. Stubbs singled to lead off the inning and then scored on a well-executed hit-and-run from Ramon Hernandez. Cabrera would later drive Hernandez in from third, giving the Reds a 6-1 advantage.
- The Reds added another run in the eigth. Jay Bruce smoked a double to lead off the inning and was followed by a Stubbs walk. After Ramon sacrificed them, Chris Heisey pinch hit for Cueto (who was at 110 pitches after 8) and hit a sac fly. Reds 7, Phills 1.
- Bill Bray came in for Cueto. He quickly got Juan Castro and Ryan Howard out, but then allowed a single to Jayson Werth and a HR to Raul Ibanez. But he rebounded to strike out the well-traveled Dane Sardinha. Reds win, 7-3.
Other Notes
- Joey Votto went 3 for 4 to continue his on-base streak to 36 games and flex his muscles in front of the selector of the NL all-star team. Brandon Phillips was only 1 for 5, but started a great double play early in the game off an Ibanez shot.
- Bill Bray got up to 92 on his fastball, per GameDay. I think that's a little slower than what we saw from him before, but given the layoff it's more than understandable. Hopefully he learned something from the slider he hung to Ibanez.
- Reds stay in first place for at least another day. As of now, St. Louis is losing 5-2 to Arizona. Per ESPN, the Reds haven't been in first this late in the year since '99. Phirst place!