Our bats can't be silent, cuz they might beat Giants, and what are we gonna do unless they are? Reds win, 3-0.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Johnny Cueto.  They say we don't have an ace on the staff, but Cueto likes to turn in performances like these that suggest otherwise.  He pitched seven shutout innings, only giving up four hits.  He struck out eight and only walked two, both in the first inning.  Great outing.  Honorable mentions go to Jonny Gomes (three hits and an RBI) and Chris Heisey (a hit off the bench and run scored).

Key Plays

• Johnny Cueto pitched very well today, but he got some help from timely defense to chalk up an oh-so-rare scoreless first inning.  He walked the speedy Andres Torres, but Ramon Hernandez threw Torres out trying to steal second.  Good thing too, since the next batter, Miguel Tejada, doubled.  That likely would have been enough to score Torres, and if not that, then Freddy Sanchez's grounder that sent Tejada to third.  Aubrey Huff walked, but Nate Schierholtz popped up to end the inning.
• In the fourth inning, following strikeouts by Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, a newly healthy Scott Rolen doubled.  It was a good thing his throat had cleared, because he was able to race home on Jonny Gomes's single.  Reds lead, 1-0.
• Madison Bumgarner also pitched seven strong inning for the Jints in a classic pitchers' duel.  But he left in the eighth inning, giving way to Santiago Casilla.  After getting two quick outs, Joey Votto doubled.  Casilla intentionally walked Jay Bruce to face Scott Rolen, but then lost him to a walk too.  Casilla's wildness continued with the bases loaded, and a passed ball let Votto score.  Gomes then grounded out, the one at-bat on the evening when he didn't get a hit.  Reds lead, 2-0.
• The Giants are the weakest offense in the league, but insurance runs are always good.  Guillermo Mota pitched the ninth inning, picking up two quick outs.  But Chris Heisey, who entered the game in the eighth as a defensive replacement, singled and Mota walked Drew Stubbs.  Brandon Phillips then singled sharply and Heisey scored.  Reds win, 3-0.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• All the runs were scored with two outs.
• The Giants had a runner on third with one twice, and each time, Cueto struck out the next batter.
• Madison Bumgarner is 2-8, but in seven of his eight losses, the offense has scored one run or less.  Rather amazingly, Bumgarner only has one win when he pitches in San Francisco.
• Opponents are only hitting .171 when Johnny Cueto throws a slider.
• Even before his three hit night, Johnny Gomes had a 96 OPS+ for the season.  Hands up if you expected that to be lower.