I've been waitin'. Are you waitin' for my move? Well, I'm makin' it. Reds win, 6-3.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Drew Stubbs.  He went 3-3 and stole a base.  It's a great line for our leadoff hitter... except that he was batting sixth.  Well, that's pretty good in that spot too.  Honorable mentions go to our actual leadoff hitter, Brandon Phillips (2-4 with two runs and an RBI) and Mike Leake (six innings, and only two runs allowed).

Key Plays

• The Reds opened the first inning with a different version of Joe Morgan's perfect run - scoring without benefit of a hit.  Brandon Phillips grounded a ball to the first baseman Chris Marrero, who botched it.  Dave Sappelt sacrifice bunted Phillips to second, and Phillips took third when Joey Votto grounded out.  Then Ross Detwiler threw a wild pitch and Phillips scored.  Reds lead, 1-0.
• Mike Leake only got into trouble in one inning, and that was the third.  Wilson Ramos homered off of him to begin the inning, and then Jayson Werth hit a solo shot two outs later.  Nationals lead, 2-1.
• Fortunately, the Reds had it in them to counter.  Brandon Phillips and Dave Sappelt started off the bottom of the third with singles, and Joey Votto hit a ball to Chris Marrero.  This was a great idea as Marrero threw the ball away and Phillips made it home.  Ross Detwiler then loaded the bases by walking Jay Bruce.  The Reds capitalized, but perhaps it could have been more.  Miguel Cairo hit a sacrifice fly, and Sappelt scored.  Joey Votto tagged up and went to third in a heads up play, allowing him to score when Drew Stubbs also hit a sacrifice fly.  Then Jay Bruce got caught stealing.  The Reds scored three runs, but maybe it could have been more.  Reds lead, 4-2.
• The Reds did a bit of throat stomping and opportunity squandering in the fourth as well.  Ryan Hanigan hit a one out single, and Mike Leake bunted him to second.  Brandon Phillips then hit a single.  Hanigan scored, but should-be Reds trade target Mike Morse threw Phillips out going for second.  Reds lead, 5-2.
• In the sixth inning, Miguel Cairo led off with a double, and if that wasn't improbable enough, he also stole third base.  And then he managed to not score when Drew Stubbs hit a single.  Granted, it was an infield single on a grounder to shortstop, but still not something you see every day.  Edgar Renteria hit a sacrifice fly.  Reds lead, 6-2.
• Defensive whiz Mike Morse also flexed his muscles at the dish, hitting a home run off of Sam LeCure in the eighth inning.  Reds win, 6-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Call it a small sample size if you must, but Brandon Phillips is hitting .442 in the last ten games in the leadoff slot, with a hit in each of those games.  He's scored nine runs and even driven in ten.  In 1975, Sparky Anderson asked Pete Rose to switch positions.  In 2011, Brandon Phillips asked Dusty Baker to switch him in the lineup. 
• The Reds have reached a .500 record for the first time since July 6.
• Since blowing all those games in Milwaukee before the All-Star Break, Francisco Cordero has recorded 12 straight saves.
• The Reds are 37-23 when scoring first.  Unfortunately, all those first inning runs allowed take their toll.