Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Drew Stubbs. Sure, he made a boneheaded baserunning error, but who didn't tonight? Otherwise, he went 3-4 with a double and also walked. He scored the Reds only run of the game. Honorable mentions go to Edgar Renteria (two hits, one of which was a double [nice night from the top of the order] and two changed avatars) and Sam LeCure, who pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Key Plays
- The Reds were going to need some lucky bounces to get the better of Chris Carpenter, something they very rarely do. The Cardinals seemed to want to oblige by playing some particularly shoddy defense. In the third inning, Carpenter walked Drew Stubbs with one out, and then Edgar Renteria beat out an infield single when David Freese took slightly too long to get the ball out of his glove. Chris Carpenter yelled at him for a bit, then gave up a single to Joey Votto, and Drew Stubbs scored. Brandon Phillips then grounded a ball back to the mound, but Carpenter's throw was low and Daniel Descalso couldn't handle it. Carpenter did not yell at himself. With the bases loaded, the Cardinals rattled, and Jay Bruce at the plate, the Reds were poised to do some real damage. Instead, Bruce grounded into an inning ending double play and the Reds never really threatened again. Reds lead, 1-0.
- Bronson Arroyo had been pitching a pretty sharp game, but made a big mistake in the fifth inning when he allowed Chris Carpenter to hit a double on an 0-2 pitch that went right through the heart of the plate. Skip Schumaker grounded to second where Brandon Phillips made a great throw to third to nail Carpenter. Daniel Descalso flew out, and if the pitcher hadn't gotten a hit, the inning would have been over. Instead, Jon Jay came to the plate and laid down a bunt with two outs. Arroyo fielded it, but slipped as he threw and Jay was safe with Schumaker on third. Albert Pujols came to bat and everyone knew what would happen next. Yup, home run over the left field wall. Cardinals lead, 3-1.
- In the seventh inning, Schumaker singled with one out. Arroyo got Descalso to hit a grounder, but Skip went to second. That was enough to allow him to score when Jon Jay singled. Cardinals win, 4-1.
Other Notes
- Remember when Chris Carpenter couldn't win games? Remember when Albert Pujols had a broken wrist? Well, Albert Pujols only missed two weeks, and now has 20 home runs on the year. He joins Eddie Mathews and Cincinnati's own Frank Robinson as the only players to hit at least 20 home runs in each of their first 11 seasons. Pujols also passed Mike Piazza for 41st on the alltime home run leader list with 428.
- The Reds have only scored one run in their last 16 innings against Carpenter.
- Albert Pujols caught Chris Heisey taking a wide turn around second. Drew Stubbs got doubled up when he didn't realize that Edgar Renteria's fly to center would be caught. The Reds took advantage of two errors in the eighth to threaten, but Carpenter struck out Heisey to end the threat.