Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Joey Votto. A tough call for the award today as many Reds had good games, but also had some detriments. For example, Votto only had one hit, but it was a bomb of a home run to secure the lead. So for sheer dramatics and singular importance, Votto gets the glory. Honorable mentions go to Homer Bailey, Orlando Cabrera, Rickie Weeks, and Scott Rolen.
Key Plays
- The Reds flexed their power muscles today and got started in the second inning. Jonny Gomes hit a one out single off of Chris Capuano, then Drew Stubbs hit an opposite field home run. Reds lead, 2-0.
- Homer Bailey got himself into trouble in the bottom of the second. He didn't cover the bag, allowing Carlos Gomez to beat out a grounder to first for an infield hit, and then an errant pickoff throw allowed Gomez to go to third with no outs. But Bailey struck out the next three batters to remain unscathed.
- Bailey wasn't so lucky in the third inning. After striking out three straight batters, he walked Rickie Weeks on four pitches, and then Corey Hart hit a single. Chris Heisey bobbled the ball, allowing Weeks to coast into third. The last time the Brewers played against Bailey, they ran at will. Not so tonight, as Ryan Hanigan fired a bullet to catch Hart stealing second. However, Ryan Braun was able to ground out to shortstop, which was enough to bring in Weeks. Reds lead, 2-1.
- Weeks scored again in the fifth inning. He doubled to lead off the inning, and one out later, Braun drove him in again, this time with a double. Game tied, 2-2.
- Outside of Orlando Cabrera, the Reds offense wasn't doing much. That changed in the eighth inning off of Kameron Loe. Cabrera singled with one out, and then Joey Votto hit a massive opposite field home run. On the next pitch, Scott Rolen also homered. Reds win, 5-2.
Other Notes
- Drew Stubbs is the only the sixth center fielder in baseball to get 20 home runs this season. He's also the 14th Red since 1959 to have a 20-20 season, and the first outfielder since Mike Cameron in 1999 to do it.
- Scott Rolen also hit his 20th home run. It's the most since he hit 22 in 2006, the year when he won a World Series.
- Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth inning, earning his 37th save of the season. This ties him with Clay Carroll for the sixth most saves in a single season for the Reds. He's also only nine saves away from tying the Hawk for third place on the Reds career saves list.
- The Reds are 8-1 against the Brewers this year. Joey Votto is batting .457 against them, and Scott Rolen is hitting .480.
- The Reds are 56-27 against teams under .500. The Cardinals are 46-50 against those teams.
- The Reds have a magic number of 6... and a division lead of 7.