Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Mike Leake. The refrain over the last several weeks has been that our starting pitching has been sabotaging us. Mike Leake didn't pitch perfectly, but he gave us what we needed: innings. Leake went 8 innings and scattered ten hits, giving up only two runs. Mercifully, the Reds only needed to use one reliever to finish up the game. Honorable mentions go to Jonny Gomes (two hits, a home run, and four RBI) and Jay Bruce (three hits, two doubles, three runs, and an outfield assist).
Key Plays
- Leake began the game shakily. He gave up a single to Kosuke Fukudome, and Darwin Barney grounded into a fielder's choice. Starlin Castro singled and Barney went to third, where he was able to tag up and score on Carlos Pena's sacrifice fly. Cubs lead, 1-0.
- Jay Bruce led off the bottom of the second with a double, and Jonny Gomes singled to bring him in. Miguel Cairo grounded into a double play to snuff out the rally. Game tied, 1-1.
- Drew Stubbs homered in the third inning. Reds lead, 2-1.
- The Reds weren't done. With one out in the fourth, Miguel Cairo walked, Ryan Hanigan singled, and Paul Janish walked. Mike Leake singled to keep the inning alive, and drove in Cairo in the bargain. Drew Stubbs grounded into a force out, but Hanigan scampered home, and Brandon Phillips was out on a soft liner to second. Reds lead, 4-1.
- The Cubs gave the illusion that the game was close, and that Kosuke Fukudome was a good player, when he doubled with one out in the fifth. Darwin Barney's single put him on third, and Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly. Reds lead, 4-2.
- Jeff Samardzija pitched the bottom of the fifth and started things out by hitting Joey Votto with a pitch. Jay Bruce doubled, and Jonny Gomes hit a three run homer. Reds lead, 7-2.
- Jay Bruce singled off of James Russell to start the seventh. Then Jonny Gomes was hit by a pitch, and one out later, Ryan Hanigan walked to load the bases. Paul Janish hit a ball to Aramis Ramirez, who mishandled it. Bruce scored and Janish was safe, but Leake grounded into a double play, ending the inning. No matter. Reds win, 8-2.
Other Notes
- Jay Bruce's three hits has him in striking distance of .300. Jonny Gomes's two hits has him in striking distance of .200.
- Gomes only has two home runs since April 17, and both are against the Cubs.
- When Leake pitched a perfect sixth inning, it ended a streak of 19 innings in which Reds pitchers had allowed a baserunner.
- Leake is undefeated since returning from Louisville.