The Cincinnati Reds? You're not missing anything. I've looked into it. There's a win shortage and a #Flocka Seagulls. That's about it. Reds lose, 4-3.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Dontrelle Willis.  Willis made his Reds debut and turned in a quality start.  He went six innings, and only gave up four hits.  He also issued four walks, struck out four, and allowed two runs.  All in all, a very nice outing from a very nice guy.  Honorable mentions go to Aroldis Chapman (two perfect innings, four strikeouts) and Ramon Hernandez (the best player we have now).

Key Plays

• Randy Wolf (are we sure this isn't a male pornstar's name?) started out very wild.  He walked Drew Stubbs, Brandon Phillips, and Jay Bruce to load the bases (while getting Zack Cozart and Joey Votto out), then hit Scott Rolen with a pitch to force in a run with no hits allowed.  Reds lead, 1-0.
• Dontrelle Willis clearly knew what was expected of him as a Cincinnati Reds starter, and met those expectations by giving up a leadoff double to Rickie Weeks.  Carlos Gomez bunted Weeks to third, and Corey Hart's single brought him home.  Willis then loaded the bases by walking Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee, but retired the side to prevent further damage.  Game tied, 1-1.
• Ramon Hernandez just keeps on hitting, and he singled to start the second inning.  But a series of forceouts wound up with Drew Stubbs on first and two outs.  Zack Cozart singled, and so did Joey Votto.  Stubbs scored, and the Reds were back on top.  Reds lead, 2-1.
• Willis struck out the first two batters he faced in the second.  Up stepped Rickie Weeks, and Willis walked him rather than let him beat him.  Well, as sound as that strategy seemed, it backfired when Carlos Gomez hit a triple.  Game tied, 2-2.
• Ramon Hernandez led off the fourth inning like he did the second, with a single.  Dontrelle Willis bunted him over to second, and Drew Stubbs walked.  Zack Cozart then hit a grounder to third that had potential to be a double play.  But Rickie Weeks threw wildly to first, and Hernandez ended up scoring.  Reds lead, 3-2.
• It stayed that way until the ninth, with Willis and especially Aroldid Chapman pitching very impressively.  Despite having pitched in three of the last four games, and giving up runs in each of them, Francisco Cordero came in to close out the ninth inning.  Pinch hitter Nyjer Morgan hit a one out single, then stole second.  Once again, Coco could not retire the light hitting George Kottaras and lost him to a walk.  Pinch hitter Mark Kotsay, who has destroyed the Reds this series, singled up the middle, deflecting off Cordero.  Morgan scored to tie the game.  Coco then hit Rickie Weeks with a pitch, loading the bases, so that Craig Counsell could loft a ball to the outfield.  Kottaras tagged, scored, and the rest was history.  Brewers win, 4-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Last night, I mentioned beginning the countdown to the 300th run Francisco Cordero had allowed.  Well, he reached that milestone now.  Word was that Coco was very frustrated about being left off the All-Star roster.  Honestly, at that point he would have deserved inclusion.  But rather than just bide his time and wait for injuries, like Scott Rolen who is now starting the All-Star Game, Cordero has blown three saves in a row against the teams the Reds need to beat to win the NL Central.
• Aroldis Chapman hit 102 mph on the gun.
• Craig Counsell, who had been 0 for his last 28, also hit a game winning sacrifice fly against Francisco Cordero in the last game before the All-Star Break in 2008.
• Mark Kotsay is 7-14 lifetime against Cordero.
• The Brewers have sold out 14 games this year.  I'm a little envious.
• Even with all that, you can't help but feel happy for Dontrelle Willis.