Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Sam LeCure. Edinson Volquez once again failed to pitch deep into a game, and naturally the game ended up going into extra innings. LeCure was the first reliever in and pitched 1.2 nearly perfect innings. He did intentionally walk a batter, but he struck out three. It's nice to have the mustachioed one back. Honorable mentions go to Nick Masset (two scoreless extra innings) and Jay Bruce (two doubles and a walk).
Key Plays
- Somewhat surprisingly, Edinson Volquez posted a scoreless first inning, but then he got touched up in the second. He walked Derrek Lee and then Matt Wieters hit a ground rule double. Two runners in scoring position and no outs. Volquez struck out Mark Reynolds (only slightly more difficult than striking out Drew Stubbs) before Blake Davis hit a triple, his first major leage hit. Lee and Wieters scored, and J.J. Hardy walked to put runners on the corners. Fortunately Nick Markakis grounded into a double play and the inning was over. Orioles lead, 2-0.
- Adam Jones hit a home run in the top of the third, then got burned deep in pass coverage for the Bengals. Orioles lead, 3-0.
- In the fourth inning, and the third consecutive in which Baltimore would score, Matt Wieters hit yet another ground rule double. Volquez got the next two outs, but J.J. Hardy hit a soft single to left, and with Wieters running on the pitch, he was able to score. Orioles lead, 4-0.
- The Reds came roaring back against Chris Jakubauskas in the fifth inning. With one out, Ramon Hernandez singled (thanks again for him, Baltimore!). Chris Heisey then drew a walk after Paul Janish flew out and Brandon Phillips hit a double. Hernandez and Heisey both scored. Then Joey Votto also smacked a double and Phillips scored. It was a game again! Orioles lead, 4-3.
- Jason Berken replaced Jakubauskas (love that name!) in the sixth inning, retiring Jay Bruce but surrendering a double to Jonny Gomes. Drew Stubbs struck out, and in the process of walking Ramon Hernandez, Berken threw a wild pitch that allowed Gomes to go to third. Paul Janish then singled and Gomes scored. Yup, Berken is so bad, he allowed Gomes and Janish to beat him. Game tied, 4-4.
- And so the game proceeded to extra innings. Jay Bruce had a couple unfortunate doubles with runners on base. The first was a ground rule double, so Scott Rolen had to stop at third. The second resulted in Joey Votto being thrown out at the plate. Then Jose Arredondo gave up a home run to Derrek Lee, the first batter he faced in the twelfth inning. Game over. Orioles win, 5-4.
Other Notes
- Derrek Lee had not homered since May 8.
- The Reds need as much help at DH as they do at shortstop. Their designated hitters are just 2-16, a .125 average.
- For the second series in a row, the Reds are playing a team they faced in a World Series in the 70s. Tonight's game went pretty similar to those in 1970.