Come on all you good 'Rats, we'll send you to Heaven. Reds win, 11-8.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips.  3-5 with a home run and 4 RBI.  Sure, it's not a traditional line from the leadoff position, but that provides a spark nicely.  Honorable mentions go to Ryan Hanigan (2-4, a dinger, and 3 RBI) and Paul Janish (a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored).

Key Plays

• For the second night in a row, the start to the game was postponed by rain.  When this one did get underway, it was a wild, wooly affair.  Joey Votto got the scoring underway in the fourth inning with a home run off of Kevin Correia, after Fred Lewis had singled.  With about five weeks left in the season, Votto is heating up!  Reds lead, 2-0.
• The Pirates came right back in the bottom of the inning.  Andrew McCutchen led off with a single off of Homer Bailey.  One out later, Neil Walker singled, and then Ryan Ludwick, the big-hearted moose, drew a walk to load the bases.  Brandon Wood hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in McCutchen, and Ronny Cedeno, who always seems to do well against the Reds, hit a single that brought in Walker.  Game tied, 2-2.
• But Ryan Hanigan quickly put the Reds up with a home run in the fifth.  Then Paul Janish hit a double.  Homer Bailey laid down a sacrifice bunt, and successfully made it to first base himself.  With two runners on, Brandon Phillips blasted a home run.  Reds lead, 6-2.
• The Pirates once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning.  Jose Tabata singled, and stole second as Garrett Jones struck out looking.  Clint Hurdle objected to the call and got himself tossed.  Perhaps rallying behind a manager that's willing to stick up for his players during a game, Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Doumit got on base via a walk and a single, respectively.  Neil Walker then hit a sacrifice fly and Tabata scored.  Reds lead, 6-3.
• As part of a double switch in the sixth, Sam LeCure came in to relieve Bailey.  He promptly gave up a single to Brandon Wood and a double to Ronny Cedeno.  With Ronny and Wood on second and third and Keith and Mick on Marianne Faithful, Matt Diaz pinch hit for Kevin Correia.  Their tactic of scoring runs via productive outs continued as Diaz grounded to second and Wood scored.  Reds lead, 6-4.
• No longer able to feast on the Correian BBQ, the Reds offense instead turned its sights on Brad Lincoln.  Brandon Phillips hit a one single, but was erased as Fred Lewis hit into a fielder's choice.  Then Joey Votto walked, and Joe Beimel came in to face Jay Bruce.  Since the bases weren't loaded, Bruce was able to line a single up the middle and Lewis scored.  Dave Sappelt walked to load the bases, but Jason "Your Last Name Is" Grilli struck out Drew Stubbs to end the threat.  Reds lead, 7-4.
• Bill Bray was pitching the seventh inning for the Reds, and started off well with two quick outs.  Then he hit Neil Walker with a pitch, and Ryan Ludwick doubled.  Jose Arredondo came into the game, and you know what that means.  Runs!  Brandon Wood singled, and both Walker and Ludwick scored.  Reds lead, 7-6.
• The fabled Chris Resop took the mound for the Pirates in the eighth, and should probably retire now because Paul Janish got a hit off him.  Then Janish stole second.  Miguel Cairo, who had replaced Todd Frazier, singled, and there were runners on the corners.  Brandon Phillips grounded out to the shortstop, but it was enough to bring home Janish.  Reds lead, 8-6.
• Nick Masset, who is either a double agent or having a terrible night, came in to pitch the eighth and couldn't really get anyone out.  Pinch hitter Xavier Paul doubled, and Jose Tabata hit a single.  Garrett Jones doubled, scoring Paul and putting two runners in scoring position.  In scoring position, that is, until you try to run on Dave Sappelt.  Andrew McCutchen hit a ball to left field.  Tabata scored, but Sappelt's throw was in time to nail Jones.  McCutchen went to second on the throw.  Ryan Doumit singled, and there were runners on the corners.  Since only Sappelt had gotten anyone out in the inning, Dusty brought in Travis Wood.  He immediately walked Neil Walker to load the bases.  Ryan Ludwick then flew out to center.  McCutchen tagged and tried to score, but Drew Stubbs threw him out to complete the inning-ending double play.  Two runners cut down at the plate is both really good and necessary when your pitchers can't get outs.  Game tied, 8-8.
• The Pirates had their own double agent in the person of Joel Hanrahan though.  He walked Joey Votto to start the ninth, and Dave Sappelt got a single one out later to put runners on the corners.  Drew Stubbs then hit a grounder to second and Neil Walker came home with the throw.  Ryan Doumit missed the catch and Votto scored.  Stubbs and Sappelt wound up on second and third.  Perhaps Doumit as actually the double agent, with his cold, dead eyes?  Anyway, Ryan Hanigan sealed the win with a single, and Sappelt and Stubbs both scored.  Reds win, 11-8.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• I lost power and air conditioning in my house during the game.  The Reds encountered the same nasty circumstances in their hotel before the game.  Brandon Phillips was unnerved and swore there was someone else in his room.  Since I went to the movies and saw a preview for Paranormal Activities 3, now I'm a little freaked out too.
• Kevin Correia has a 7.75 ERA at home, but still has never picked up a loss against the Reds.
• Homer Bailey pitched five innings, but Dusty Baker still managed to use seven relievers to pitch the final four innings.  And since Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth, that means that six relievers combined to pitch the three preceding innings.