Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Yonder Alonso. Despite one tentative play in left field early in the game, the kid did pretty well and ended up being the only Red with multiple hits. Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto (two runs) and Jay Bruce (two runs driven in).
Key Plays
- The Reds got off to a sharp start in this affair. Drew Stubbs led off with a single and stole second. One out later, Joey Votto walked, and after Brandon Phillips flew out, Jay Bruce singled to right field and Stubbs scored. Then Ramon Hernandez stung a ball to right. Jayson Werth reached up to make a play, but the ball popped out of his glove, and Votto scored. Reds lead, 2-0.
- At this point in the game, I leaned over to Gray and cautioned that Washington hadn't had a chance to bat yet, and giving up first inning runs is what Cincinnati does. Right away, Rick Ankiel blooped a ball into left center. Yonder Alonso showed hesitance going for it, and Drew Stubbs raced in, but just couldn't make the play. It fell for a single. Ryan Zimmerman hit a single one out later (well, grounded the ball to Renteria, who couldn't get it out of his glove), and then Mike Morse clobbered a ball to the outfield. Jay Bruce took a step in before realizing it was over his head, and it fell for a double. Ankiel scored and Zim moved to third. Mike Leake walked Jayson Werth to load the bases, then struck out our old friend Laynce Nix. After chortling about Ian Desmond's .280 OBP, Desmond then dropped a hit over the infield, and Zimmerman and Morse both scored. That's why you run with two outs, kids. Nationals lead, 3-2.
- Mike Morse homered in the third inning. We shoulda traded for that guy. Nationals lead, 4-2.
- In the fourth inning, Wilson Ramos hit a one out double. Chien-Ming Wang did not bunt, but he did ground out to shortstop which enabled Ramos to get to third, so same difference. Rick Ankiel then grounded one to Joey Votto, and the ball hit off the heel of Joey's glove. Votto wouldn't have had a play at the plate anyway, but matters weren't helped when he became entangled with the first base umpire. Nationals lead, 5-2.
- Ryan Zimmerman homered to lead off the fifth. It was an absolute shot into deep right field. Now that guy, we shoulda traded for. Nationals lead, 6-2.
- The Reds had gotten to Chien-Ming Wang in the first inning, but after that, he'd become Chien-Andalusia and was slicing up eyeballs. Joey Votto, who'd hit balls hard that had become outs, finally hit a double in the sixth. Two successive groundouts from Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce brought him home. Nationals lead, 6-3.
- The Reds threatened briefly in the seventh inning too. Pinch hitter Fred Lewis led off with a single, and one out later Edgar Renteria hit a ball off the wall. A few feet to the left and it would have been a home run. It was still enough for Lewis to score, and the throw to the plate allowed a limping Renteria to hop in to second. He had pulled his groin on the play and was replaced by Paul Janish. Tyler Clippard came in and promptly retired Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips on a foolish looking strikeout. Nationals win, 6-4.
Other Notes
- I met Bob Castellini's nephew on the Metro going to the game. He didn't seem to know all that much about baseball, and did express some surprise about the "urban element" he'd seen wearing Reds hats. On the Green Line, it's best to watch the volume of your voice when you say stuff like that.
- I met up with Gray and ChiDa and Mrs. ChiDa at the game. Fine folks who abandoned their 100 level seats to watch the rest of the game with me in the very last row of the stadium. Much appreciated.
- Teddy Roosevelt had a commanding lead in the President's Race until he was tackled by a monkey wearing a Strasberg jersey.
- Laynce Nix and Jonny Gomes showed that the 2010 Reds are still good at winning.