Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Aroldis Chapman. He didn't do the most to contribute to the win, but his debut was as exciting as anything Reds fans have experienced in years. We were excited to get him, we followed his exploits in Louisville, and he lived up to the hype. Wow. 8 pitches, 7 strikes, four pitches of 100 mph or higher, and a perfect inning of relief. Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Yovani Gallardo.
Key Plays
- Aaron Harang made his return to the Reds, and had an unspectacular go of it. In the first inning, Corey Hart hit a one out single, and moved to second base on Ryan Braun's groundout. Then Prince Fielder fisted a hit into left field over Paul Janish's head, and Hart scored. Brewers lead, 1-0.
- But the Reds didn't let that lead last long. Yovani Gallardo walked Drew Stubbs, and then Chris Valaika singled. Up stepped demigod Joey Votto, and then came a double that seemed preordained. Stubbs and Valaika scored. Reds lead, 2-1.
- After getting an inning ending bases loaded double play in the top of the inning, the Reds came to bat in the bottom of the fourth. Scott Rolen doubled, and Jonny Gomes hit an opposite field home run - his first all season. Reds lead, 4-1.
- Harang began to struggle in the fifth inning, giving up a single to Ryan Braun and losing Prince Fielder to a walk. Sam LeCure came in in relief and got Casey McGehee to fly out. Then Chris Dickerson hit a single that went under Jonny Gomes's glove. Braun and Fielder scored, and Dickerson ended up on third. LeCure escaped the inning without further damage. Reds lead, 4-3.
- In the bottom of the inning, Drew Stubbs led off with a double, and then Votto hit his second double of the night to bring Stubbs around. Reds lead, 5-3.
- The Reds put the game away in the sixth inning. Gallardo walked Ryan Hanigan, who then scored when Paul Janish hit a double. Sam LeCure batted for himself, bunted, and made it to first base as Janish went to third. Manny Parra came in to relieve Gallardo, and got Drew Stubbs to ground out, but Janish moved to second. Chris Valaika struck out, and Parra wisely walked Joey Votto. But he forgot that Scott Rolen is a badass too, and Rolen hit a bases loaded double. Janish and LeCure scored. Reds lead, 8-3.
- Aroldis Chapman pitched the eighth inning. It was glorious.
- Rickie Weeks hit a home run off Logan Ondrusek in the ninth. Reds win, 8-4.
Other Notes
- The Reds had a 19-8 record in August, the best in the majors.
- Joey Votto had three RBI to claim the league lead. He also poked his batting average back over Carlos Gonzalez.
- Joey Votto and Scott Rolen made two outstanding defensive plays to get the last two outs of the ninth inning. Offense, defense, pitching - this team is getting it done in all areas.
- After getting a crowd of about 14,500 last night, only 19,218 showed up for tonight's titanic struggle.
- Since St. Louis lost again (11-15 in August), getting shut out for the second night in a row. That means the Reds have a seven game lead, and their magic number is 25. The Reds are 22 games over .500.