Reds Bring Brooms to the Ballpark, but Then Actually Try to Use Them to Hit. 1-0 Reds Lose.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Hamilton's own Aaron Cook.  The local boy threw 7 shutout innings against the mighty Reds today, scattering 6 hits while striking out 5.  He had them dazed and stupified, keeping them off balance all afternoon and only throwing 82 pitches.  Honorable mention goes to Chris Iannetta who plated the lone run of the afternoon with a homer in the 6th.

Key Plays

• The Reds had runners on the corners in the opening frame after a double from Orlando Cabrera and a single from Jonny Gomes, but Laynce Nix struck out.
• In the 2nd, the Rockies first two hitters reached on a error and a walk, but Travis Wood got Chris Iannetta to ground into a double play to kill the rally.
• The Reds loaded the bases in the 3rd but Miguel Cairo struck out.
• In the 4th, the Rockies loaded the bases with 2 outs before Wood coaxed Clint Barmes to pop up.
• The first and only blood of the day was drawn with 2 outs when Chris Iannetta blasted a homer into the LF seats.  It proved to be the difference.
• The Reds made their only real effort to score in the 9th when Drew Stubbs blooped a 1-out single to CF.  Ryan Hanigan pinch-hit for Corky Miller and laced a hit-and-run single to CF to put runners on the corners with only 1 out.  But Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips both struck out.  Game over, Rockies win 1-nil

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

Travis Wood has allowed only 1 run in the last 15 innings he's pitched.  The Reds have lost both of those games 1-0.

Scott Rolen sat out his second straight game due to illness.  The Reds are not good when he doesn't play.

The Reds were 1-10 with runners in scoring position today.  Someone give Rolen a B-12 shot.

As this recap went to press, the Dodgers are leading the Cardinals 4-0 heading into the 8th.  The Reds need a Cardinal loss to maintain first place.