I'm Not Saying Our Offense is Lifeless, But Brian B Selected It in His Bereavement Pool. Reds lose, 4-3.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Chris Johnson.  No, it's not just an effort to get Google hits on NFL Sunday.  The Astros third baseman went 2-3 with a double and a home run, and also scored two runs.  Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto and Humberto Quintero.  That creep can roll.

Key Plays

• Travis Wood was cruising along in this game, operating without run support.  As Harvey Haddix can tell you, such things rarely turn out well.  Wood didn't make it to the thirteenth inning, only the fifth, before getting into trouble.  He hit Jason Michaels with a pitch, and then Chris Johnson hit a double to deep right field.  Runners on second and third, with no outs.  Tommy Manzella grounded out, but then Humberto Quintero hit a single to left field that scored Michaels and Johnson.  Ramon Hernandez's throwing error allowed Quintero to wind up on third base, and Brett Myers's subsequent fly ball became a sacrifice fly.  Astros lead, 3-0.
• Jordan Smith came in to pitch for Wood in the seventh inning and immediately gave up a home run to Chris Johnson.  Astros lead, 4-0.
• That run turned out to be a biggie.  The Reds, using their new "let's only score in one inning per game" strategy, picked the eighth inning to score runs.  Matt Lindstrom was the new Houston pitcher, and gave up a one out double to Joey Votto.  Jonny Gomes flew out, but Jay Bruce singled and Votto scampered home.  The Reds were on the board!  Then Ramon Hernandez hit a home run to bring the Reds within one.  Mark Melancon (and the Infinite Sadness) relieved Lindstrom and somehow managed to strike out Drew Stubbs looking.  That almost never happens.  Astros win, 4-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• The Reds had baserunners in six innings but couldn't score, including multiple baserunners in the first, sixth, and ninth.  Joey Votto ended the game with two runners on by popping out to shortstop.  An infield popup from Joey Votto makes we want to go all double rainbow on the universe.  WHAT DOES IT MEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN?!
• The Astros have not officially been eliminated from the NL Central race yet.
• The Brewers are currently losing 9-2 in the seventh inning.  If that score holds up, Milwaukee will be eliminated today.