I'm beginning to think Aaron Harang might not have it anymore. Reds lose, 10-5.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Carlos Gonzalez.  Because he is apparently invincible at altitude, the Reds were unable to contain Carlos Gonzalez.  The left fielder went 3-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored.  His average is now up to .340 and more performances like this will help ensure that Joey Votto doesn't take home the triple crown.  Honorable mentions go to Troy Tulowitzki, Eric Young, Jr., Chris Heisey, Jonny Gomes, and Juan Francisco.  Six honorees and no pitchers.  Let the cries of foul commence!

Key Plays

• Ubaldo Jimenez hasn't been the pitcher that he was in the first half of the season, but he is still an ace.  Thus, the third inning gives us lot to feel positive about, from a team offense perspective.  Drew Stubbs led off with a walk, and then Paul Janish hit a ground rule double.  With runners on second and third and no outs, Aaron Harang contributed nothing by grounding out the pitcher.  Brandon Phillips also grounded out, but at least when he did it, it drove in a run.  Paul Janish also moved to third on Phillips's groundout, then scored when Chris Heisey executed the squeeze play.  Joey Votto then hit a ground rule double and runners were back on second and third.  (Between the ground rule double robbing him of an RBI and Carlos Gonzalez's ridiculous home splits, Coors Field is actively keeping Votto from winning the triple crown.  Also, two ground rule doubles in one inning?  WTF?)  Jonny Gomes then singled and both runners scored.  Juan Francisco singled and Ramon Hernandez walked to load the bases.  Drew Stubbs came up again as the Reds had batted around with a chance to extend the lead, but he struck out.  Surprise ending.  Reds lead, 4-0.
• Spotted this large lead, Aaron Harang proceeded to be unable to get anyone out.  Well, he got Miguel Olivo to fly out to begin the third inning.  But he couldn't get anyone else.  He walked Ubaldo Jimenez, his pitching counterpart, then surrendered a double to Eric Young, Jr.  He walked Dexter Fowler, and the bases were loaded.  Carlos Gonzalez doubled, scoring Jimenez and Young, then Troy Tulowitzki tripled, bringing in Fowler and Gonzalez.  Harang walked Todd Helton, his third walk of the inning, before Dusty brought in Jordan Smith, who promptly induced an inning ending double play.  Game tied, 4-4.
• The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning, but Jonny Gomes popped out to first, in familiar fashion.
• In the fifth inning, Tulowitzki homered off of Bill Bray.  Rockies lead, 5-4.
• The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning, but Clutch Man Monie grounded out, in highly unclutch fashion.
• Bray struck out two batters in the sixth, but walked Seth Smith and gave up a single to pinch hitter Chris Nelson.  Aroldis Chapman came in in relief, but finally showed he's human.  He gave up a single to Eric Young, Jr., which scored Smith, then Dexter Fowler hit an infield single to Paul Janish.  Janish's throw went awry and Nelson scored.  The inning continued, and Carlos Gonzalez also reached on an infield single before Eric Young, Jr. scored on a passed ball by Ryan Hanigan.  Rockies lead, 8-4.
• Carlos Fisher joined the Pitchers Who Give Up Runs Club in the seventh inning.  After getting two quick outs, he walked Seth Smith and gave up a run-scoring double to Miguel Olivo.  Then pinch hitter Ryan Spilborghs singled and Olivo scored.  Rockies lead, 10-4.
• Chris Heisey doubled off of Matt Reynolds in the eighth inning, and Juan Francisco drove him in with a single.  Rockies win, 10-5.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• All of the runs the Rockies scored against the bullpen came with two outs.
• "Matt Reynolds" was also the name of a character in L.A. Confidential.  A small-time actor (played by a young Simon Baker) who was once arrested for smoking marijuana, Reynolds was later killed as part of the conspiracy to hide the truth behind the Nite Owl killings.  But this footnote did win some glory, in taking home the coveted coroner's prize: "Stomach of the week. Unemployed actor had frankfurter, french fries, alcohol, and sperm. Hell of a last supper, don't you think?"
• Aroldis Chapman still has not given up an earned run.
• Ubaldo Jimenez's 18th win of the season established a new franchise record.  The previous high was 17 wins, held by Kevin Ritz in 1996.  Pedro Astacio also reached that mark in 1999, and Jeff Francis got there in 2007.  Bonus points if you remember Kevin Ritz at all.
• The Reds stranded 14 baserunners.