Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Troy Tulowitzki. The Rockies shortstop was 3-4 with two home runs and four RBI, and also helped turn two double plays. Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto, Seth Smith, Miguel Olivo, Drew Stubbs, and Jonathan Herrera.
Key Plays
- Believe it or not, the Reds briefly led in this game. Drew Stubbs led off the game with a single off of Aaron Cook. Brandon Phillips grounded out but was able to advance the runner. Then Joey Votto singled, and Stubbs came around to score. Reds lead, 1-0.
- Carlos Gonzalez had victimized the Reds in the first two games of the series, and they actually did a good job of limiting the damage he did tonight. But the bottom part of the order got Colorado's offense rolling against Bronson Arroyo. With one out in the second, Seth Smith singled and Miguel Olivo hit a little flare that just landed fair and ended up going for a double. With runners on second and third, Arroyo opted to pitch to Jonathan Herrera instead of walking him to face Aaron Cook, and Herrera made him pay by punching a single to right field. Rockies lead, 2-1.
- Inspired by that performance, the top of the Rockies order smacked Arroyo around in the third inning. Dexter Fowler singled and Carlos Gonzalez walked, then Troy Tulowitzki blasted a pitch over the left field wall. Rockies lead, 5-1.
- Tulowitzki homered again in the fifth inning, and one out later, so did Seth Smith. Matt Maloney relieved Arroyo, but was no more effective. Miguel Olivo and Jonathan Herrera both singled, and Aaron Cook advanced them both with a sacrifice bunt. Then Eric Young, Jr. singled back up the middle to drive in Olivo and Herrera. Rockies lead, 9-1.
- The Reds mounted semi-serious attempts to come back, but grounded into rally-killing double plays in the third, sixth, seventh, and eighth inning. Actually, they did get one run in the seventh inning. Chris Heisey led off the inning with a double, the Reds' only extra base hit of the night. Ryan Hanigan grounded out, which allowed Heisey to move to third, and Paul Janish singled to bring in the rookie. A Miguel Cairo single and Drew Stubbs getting hit by a pitch loaded the bases, but Chris Valaika grounded into one of the aforementioned rally-killing double plays. Rockies win, 9-2.
Other Notes
- Reds have lost 20 of their last 25 to the Rockies, including 9 in a row at Coors Field.
- Aaron Cook sustained a fractured right leg after being hit by a ball off the bat of Joey Votto.
- The Reds have lost four games in a row for the first time since the series against Philadelphia just before the All-Star Break.
- The teams combined to ground into five double plays, although Cincinnati hit into four of them.
- Despite atrocious pitching, hitting, and defense, the Reds remain six games ahead of the Cardinals, and their magic number has reache the Votto Mark - 19 games.