Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Johnny Cueto. This is mostly to tweak Cards fans, but the Kicker You Love to Hate still pitched a helluva game. 7 2/3 innings, five strikeouts, only three hits allowed and no earned runs. He even reached base twice. Honorable mentions go to Ramon Hernandez (probably the real JNMHSotG) and Drew Stubbs.
Key Plays
- Brandon Phillips was batting against Kyle McClellan in the bottom of the first with two outs when McClellan picked Drew Stubbs off of first base. So BP came up to face him again in the bottom of the second and blasted a home run. Reds lead, 1-0.
- Knowing a good trend when he sees one, Ramon Hernandez then homered to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Reds lead, 2-0.
- And then Hernandez homered to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning as well. This time, in a different spin, the rest of the offense pitched in too. Johnny Cueto singled, but was removed on a fielder's choice by Drew Stubbs. However, Stubbs stole second base. Paul Janish, for some reason batting second, lined out. McClellan intentionally walked Joey Votto, but Brandon Phillips ball-tapped Yadier Molina and then singled to left field. Stubbs scored. Reds lead, 4-0.
- Ryan Franklin entered the game in the seventh inning, and the Reds proceeded to do what should always be done to Ryan Franklin: hit him mercilessly. Drew Stubbs doubled, and Paul Janish sacrificed him to third. Franklin also intentionally walked Joey Votto, but that just let RBI-machine Brandon Phillips hit a sacrifice fly. Stubbs scored. Reds lead, 5-0.
- Johnny Cueto had turned in the most impressive start by a Reds pitcher this season, but in the eighth inning, his normally sure-handed defense let him down. With one out, both Paul Janish and Scott Rolen made fielding errors, allowing Daniel Descalso and Tyler Greene to reach base. Then Jon Jay hit a home run, bringing the Cardinals back within striking distance. Cueto got Ryan Theriot, but walked Colby Rasmus. Logan Ondrusek came in to face Albert Pujols, who singled, and Matt Holliday, who fouled out to end the inning. Reds lead, 5-3.
- The Reds continued to hit Ryan Franklin in the bottom of the eighth. Scott Rolen singled, and one out later, Ramon Hernandez also singled, his third hit of the day. Fred Lewis came in to pinch hit, and got to face Jason Motte. SuperFLewis singled, scoring Rolen, but Hernandez was thrown out at third. Lewis successfully went from first to third on Drew Stubbs's single though, and then scored on Motte's wild pitch. Reds win, 7-3.
Other Notes
- The Reds return to first place in the division with a half game lead over the Cardinals.
- St. Louis had not allowed a home run in eight games. Kyle McClellan allowed three home runs, and had only given up three all year.
- Johnny Cueto has pitched 13 2/3 innings and has yet to allow an earned run. At one point in this game, he retired 13 consecutive batters.
- After going 6-12 against the Cardinals last season, the Reds currently lead the season series 3-2.
- Drew Stubbs has 13 stolen bases. That's tied with Ian Desmond for second most in the majors, one behind Michael Bourn. He's got a pretty nice .364 OBP too.