Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Scott Rolen. It was a big night for the offense as five out of the top six batters in the lineup had multiple hits (Jim Edmonds went ofer). Rolen gets the nod because he had three hits (2 doubles and 2 RBI) and because I just got back from watching Scott Pilgrim. Honorable mentions go to Mike Stanton, Jay Bruce, and Laynce Nix, who reached base four times.
Key Plays
- A game after facing the pitcher with the second lowest ERA in the league, the Reds faced the league leader. It's safe to say they fared significantly better against the top dog. Brandon Phillips got the boys off to a flying start with an infield single and moved to third on Laynce Nix's single. Joey Votto and Scott Rolen both singled, scoring Phillips and Nix. Jim Edmonds made the first out, flying out to right, before Jay Bruce hit another single. Votto scored, but Rolen was thrown out at third base. Reds lead, 3-0.
- The Reds used productive outs in the third inning to expand their lead. Scott Rolen doubled to lead off, and moved to third base (safely, this time) on Jim Edmonds grounder. Jay Bruce hit a grounder to shortstop that allowed Rolen to score. Reds lead, 4-0.
- Edinson Volquez ran into a spot of bother in the fourth inning. Dan Uggla singled to lead off, and one out later, Mike Stanton doubled to left field. Uggla tried to go home, but was thrown out at the plate. Yeah! Volquez then hit Wes Helms with a pitch and walked the Jersey Shore soundalike Ronny Paulino to load the bases before Josh Johnson grounded out.
- Volquez showed Johnson how a pitcher is supposed to bat in the bottom of the inning by beating out an infield hit. After being erased on a fielder's choice by Brandon Phillips, Laynce Nix singled. Joey Votto singled, allowing Phillips to score, but Nix - like Rolen before him - was thrown out at third. A shame too, because Scott Rolen then hit a double that would have scored two runs, instead of just Votto. It was enough to chase Josh Johnson from the game, though, after only 3.2 innings. Reds lead, 6-0.
- Jay Bruce homered to center field off of Taylor Tankersley to lead off the fifth inning. Reds lead, 7-0.
- Mike Stanton then homered off of Edinson Volquez in the sixth. Reds lead, 7-1.
- Stanton homered again in the eighth inning, this time off Logan Ondrusek. Reds win, 7-2.
Other Notes
- Jay Bruce's homer was his first since June 30. Watching the video replay on espn.com, the highlights announcer says, "See a doctor and get rid of it!" I don't know about you, but that sounds an awful lot like he's talking about an abortion to me.
- Josh Johnson's ERA jumped 0.30 points, so now Adam Wainwright has the lowest ERA in the league. Happy now, fuckers? Johnson actually fell to third place, as Tim Hudson also has a lower ERA.
- Johnson gave up six runs, the most he's allowed since April 18, 2009. The Reds had only scored three runs combined against him the last three times they'd faced him.
- Because of intense rains in Washington, DC yesterday, the Marlins game against the Nationals was delayed two hours, and then took another 3 1/2 hours to play. As a consequence, the Marlins didn't reach their hotel in Cincinnati until 4:00 AM, which might explain why Johnson wasn't so sharp. Still, I like to believe that it's a sign that the Reds offense can handle top flight pitching when they aren't pressing.
- Jim Edmonds still does not have a hit as a Red. Saboteur?