Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Brandon Phillips. Most of us were leery seeing Phillips back in the cleanup position, as he tends to press too hard and alter his plate approach. However, the brash second baseman who's said he wants this to be his team responded well, going 3-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored, and three driven in. Honorable mentions go to Drew Stubbs and Bronson Arroyo.
Key Plays
- The Reds have hit a lot of ground rule doubles this season, and Brandon Phillips added another one to the tally sheet in the second inning. Jonny Gomes struck out, but Miguel Cairo hit an infield single that put runners on the corners. Ryan Hanigan hit a grounder to Casey McGehee at third, which was enough to score Phillips. Reds lead, 1-0.
- In the third inning, the offense that we've been expecting from the Reds finally broke through. Drew Stubbs led off with a single, and then Jay Bruce blasted a home run. Joey Votto doubled, and Brandon Phillips hit a single. Aggressive baserunning was a hallmark of last season's team, and it shown through here as well as Votto went home on the single and Phillips went to second on the throw home. Then Jonny Gomes singled, and Phillips went from second to home as well. Miguel Cairo flew out for the first out of the inning, but then Ryan Hanigan hit a double and Gomes scored. That was all there was for Chris Narveson, but after Brandon Kintzler struck out Paul Janish, Bronson Arroyo picked up a single of his own, driving in Hanigan. In all, eleven Reds came to the plate in the third inning, and six runs scored. Reds lead, 7-0.
- In the fifth inning, the Brewers were able to touch up Bronson Arroyo with a little bit of luck. Jonathan Lucroy doubled to start the inning, and pinch-hitter Erick Almonte hit a grounder to Paul Janish. Janish couldn't field the ball slickly, and ended up throwing it into the dugout, allowing Lucroy to score. Reds lead, 7-1.
- By the seventh inning, Arroyo was starting to tire. He got Lucroy, but walked pinch hitter Craig Counsell. Then Rickie Weeks hit a double, and that was it for the Speedwagon. Logan Ondrusek came in in relief and gave up a sacrifice fly to the bat-flipping Carlos Gomez. Reds lead, 7-2.
- Bill Bray started the eighth inning, but wasn't sharp. He retired Prince Fielder, but then gave up a single to Casey McGehee and walked Mark Kotsay. In came Nick Masset, who accomplished the simple task of getting Yuniesky Betancourt out, but Jonathan Lucroy singled and McGehee scored. Reds lead, 7-3.
- The Reds can sometimes show a lack of a killer instinct when they're up big, and this seemed to be the case in this game. The Brewers were slowly inching back, but the Reds' lead was still comfortable. However, the offense hadn't done anything since the third. In the ninth inning, Drew Stubbs singled off of Sergio Mitre and then stole second base. Jay Bruce walked, and then the pair executed a nifty double steal after Joey Votto flied out. Brandon Phillips singled, and both of the young outfielders scored. Reds lead, 9-3.
- That extra throat crush came in handy, because Jordan Smith gave up an infield single to Rickie Weeks in the bottom of the inning, and then a two run homer to Ryan Braun. The four run margin of victory was close, but if the Brewers had then been down only two runs in the ninth, things would have been much tenser. Reds win, 9-5.
Other Notes
- The Reds mastery of the Brewers continues, as they have won all four games they've played against Milwaukee this season.
- Chris Narveson has 38 career starts, and this was his shortest of all of them.
- Joey Votto, although in some ways the weak link of the first four batters in this game, has reached base in all 23 games, and has an OBP of .500.
- Janish's error was his first of the season.