Yet another difference between Cincinnati and Tony LaRussa's BAC: The Reds are under .500. Reds lose, 8-1.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Drew Stubbs.  Screw your expectations.  Drewcifer doesn't have to impress anyone, least of all you.  When was the last time YOU were leading the Majors in ANYTHING?!  4 strikeouts and it doesn't matter because Drew is all Jason London in "Dazed and Confused" right now.  Honorable mentions go to Aroldis Chapman (two strikeouts, throws fast) and Ryan Hanigan (a hit and two walks).

Key Plays

• Edinson Volquez got two outs to start the first inning, but then gave up back to back home runs to Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman.  A fanbase reached for their numbing agent(s) of choice.  Cardinals lead, 2-0.
• Brandon Phillips led off the fourth inning with a ground rule double off of Jaime Garcia.  Seems like the Reds hit a lot of ground rule doubles, right?  Well this one was because one of the "smartest fans in baseball" reached down and grabbed a live ball.  So BP was safe with the heart of the order due up.  Joey Votto grounded out, and Phillips moved to third.  Scott Rolen grounded out, and Phillips scored.  Jay Bruce grounded out, and the inning was over.  Smawbaw!  Cardinals lead, 2-1.
• In the fifth inning, Paul Janish muffed a grounder by Ryan Theriot, leading some to speculate what he's doing here if he can't play good defense.  To be fair though, Janish did reach base three times tonight.  However, in this inning, Jon Jay followed up with a single to left, and then Matt Holliday hit his second home run of the game.  Cardinals lead, 5-1.
• The next inning was more of the same.  With one out, Volquez walked Yadier Molina, and Skip "Draw Two" Schumaker hit a ground rule double.  Dusty brought in Sam LeCure to face pinch hitter and new most-hated Cardinal Mark Hamilton.  Just like that, a pop single that Janish couldn't catch, and Molina scored.  LeCure then gave up a double to Ryan Theriot, and Schumaker and Hamilton both scored too.  Cardinals win, 8-1.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Mitchell Boggs walked the bases loaded in the ninth, but then struck out Fred Lewis and Drew Stubbs (natch) to end it.
• Berkman's home run was the 350th of his career.  He's now tied with Chili Davis for fourth most ever by a switch hitter.
• Volquez allowed back to back homers for the third time this inning season.  All of those instances have been in the first inning.  He's allowed 22 first inning runs in 16 starts.
• Jon Jay has a hit against the Reds in every game he's played against them in St. Louis.
• Dusty Baker has a 286-287 record managing the Reds.