Sweet lovely death, I am waiting for your breath. Come sweet death, one last caress. Reds lose, 5-3.

Doesn't matter much to me...

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips.  So, have we found our leadoff hitter?  Phillips provided the spark, getting on base four times with three hits and a walk, and scored two runs.  It wasn't enough for the win, but he's been mighty impressive leading off.  Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto (2-2 with two walks and two RBI, plus a stolen base) and Ramon Hernandez (a temporarily game-tying double).

Key Plays

• Charlie Morton has had the Reds number all season, but today he was facing The Sparkplug That Is Brandon Phillips.  Phillips singled to begin the game, moved to second on Fred Lewis's grounder, then scored when Joey Votto singled.  Reds lead, 1-0.
• Dontrelle Willis has pitched pretty well for the Reds this year, but try as he might he can't earn a win.  In the fourth inning, he gave up back to back singles to Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Ludwick.  Then he retired the next two batters, but friggin' Ronny Cedeno singled to left.  McCutchen scored.  Game tied, 1-1.
• Then, the next inning, Jose Tabata singled and Willis hit Garrett Jones with a pitch.  Dontrelle struck out Andrew McCutchen, but Ryan Ludwick and Neil Walker hit back to back singles, bringing around Tabata and Jones.  Pirates lead, 3-1.
• Seeking to get back in the game, Brandon Phillips, Fred Lewis and Joey Votto began the sixth inning with consecutive singles.  Votto's drove in Phillips.  It seemed like a big inning was in the offing, but then Jay Bruce grounded into a momentum killing double play.  Pirates lead, 3-2.
• Charlie Morton left the game in the sixth inning, so the Reds took advantage of Chris Resop on the mound.  Drew Stubbs singled off of him to start the seventh, then stole second base.  Ramon Hernandez then hit a double to bring Stubbs the rest of the way home.  Tony Watson came in and shut down the rest of the Reds.  Game tied, 3-3.
• Aroldis Chapman, supposedly our most reliable pitcher, entered the game and struck out Garrett Jones.  But Andrew McCutchen singled, and Chapman walked Ryan Ludwick.  Then Neil Walker hit a run scoring single and Brandon Wood hit a run scoring double.  Chapman struck out Ronny Cedeno, but walked Michael McKenry to load the bases.  Sam LeCure struck out pinch hitter Xavier Paul to end the inning, but it was too late.  Pirates win, 5-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Both of the run-scoring hits against Chapman were done with broken bats.
• So far in this series, the starting pitching has given up five runs and the bullpen has given up six.
• Winning pitcher Tony Watson had just been recalled from Indianapolis earlier in the day.
• The Reds have only scored four runs off Charlie Morton in four games against him this year.
• PNC Park was 98.6% full for this Saturday afternoon game between the third and fourth place teams in the division.  I'm hoping there was some kind of promotion, because I'm feeling a little jealous.