The Reds lost a baseball game today, and kcgard2 lost a few arguments. 7-3 Padres, 2-0 Charlie Scrabbles.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Sam LeCure.  Yosemite Sam, in accordance with his name, was LeCure for an ailing Reds pitching staff.  After Dontrelle Willis left in the 3rd inning with a sore forearm, Sam pitched 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief.  Honorable mentions to Jay Bruce and Joey Votto. Bruce drove in all three of the Reds runs with a homer and Votto reached safely three times (two walks and a single). 

Key Plays

In the 3rd inning, four singles, two walks, and two wild pitches led to four runs for the Padres.  

In the bottom of the 4th, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips earned walks before Jay Bruce hit a home run into the right-center field seats.  It was the first hit of the day for the Reds.

In the 7th, Alberto Gonzalez drew a walk to lead off the inning.  Jose Arredondo was able to retire the next two batters before Orlando Hudson O-Dawg'd a pitch down the RF line for a run-scoring triple.  5-3 Daddy-Os.

In the 8th, the Pads added another run on an HBP, a fielder's choice, and a single.  6-3.

The Reds rallied in the 8th, with Sappelt and Renteria singling with one out.  Joey Votto then strode to the plate to face Luke Gregerson and he hit one a ton.  It looked like he tied it up, but unfortunately, Cam Maybin was able to snag it just shy of the wall.  Almost.  Dang.  BeeP then flied out to thwart the threat.

In the 9th the Padres added another run off of Aroldis Chapman.  Cam Maybin was credited with an infield single when he hit a sharp ground ball to BeeP.  The throw was off line though and pulled Votto off the bag.  He stole second before a wild pitch moved him to third.  Then, with the infield pulled in, Jason Bartlett tapped a routiner to Edgar Renteria.  But he was playing too far in and it got past him for a run-scoring single.  7-3 Padres.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

Dontrelle Willis left the game in that cursed 3th inning due to forearm soreness rather than ineffectiveness (though the causal relationship is hardly arguable).  He'll be re-examined tomorrow.

The Padres are 38-7 in games in which they lead after the 6th inning.  

Jay Bruce has hit a home run in three straight games and five in the last week.  El Jefe es en fuego.  

Today was Walt Jocketty's 40th anniversary with his wife, Sue.  They spent the day at the ballpark together.  She seems like a sweet gal.

Dave Sappelt's pitch selection is very concerning.  He already has a reputation for aggressiveness, and he saw a total of seven pitches in his first three PAs.  In his PA in the 8th inning though he looked much better, keeping his bat on his shoulder while the pitcher filled up the count.  He then lined the 3-2 pitch into LCF for a single.  So that's definitely something to keep an eye on moving forward.

The earned run Chapman allowed in the 9th broke a personal 12-game scoreless streak for The Cubandolero.  He had pitched 13 2/3 innings while allowing only three singles and four walks while striking out 22(!!).  

Also of note regarding Chapman, the two strike outs he got today means he has recorded a strike out in every appearance he has made since returning from the disabled list, save for one.  

The Reds 20-game winning streak ends at four.