Now I go out alone if I go out at all. Reds lose, 4-3.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips.  When John Cusack recites his Top 5 Side 1, Track 1 songs in High Fidelity, he needs to start including DatDudeBP.  Not even Janie Jones is as good a leadoff as Phillips.  He contributed three hits, including two doubles, and scored a run.  Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto (who also had two doubles) and Juan Francisco (who also had two doubles).

Key Plays 

• The Reds got off to an early lead, thanks to two of those doubles I mentioned.  Brandon Phillips led off with a double off of Brad Lincoln.  One out later, Joey Votto went shopping and bought a gallon of milk with one hop into the left field seats: automatic two-bagger.  Reds lead, 1-0.
• Travis Wood was pretty awful in this game.  In the second inning, he walked Ryan Ludwick, then gave up a double to Jason Jaramillo.  With runners on second and third, Ronny Cedeno hit a sacrifice fly.  One out later, Alex Presley hit an infield single to Edgar Renteria, but the shortstop was able to nail Jaramillo at the plate.  Game tied, 1-1.
• It was the third inning that assured everyone who cared that this game was a lost cause.  Cincinnati native Josh Harrison led off with a triple, and Andrew McCutchen drove him in with a sacrifice fly.  The Pirates immediately sullied the now immaculate basepaths with a Derrek Lee single and a Neil Walker double.  Ryan Ludwick used a sacrifice fly - Pittsburgh's preferred gritty, self-sacrificing, blue collar method of driving in runs - to drive in a run.  Lee scored, and then Walker followed him when Jason Jaramillo singled.  Wood was done for the day.  So were the Pirates, and so, effectively, were the Reds.  Pirates lead, 4-1.
• In the fifth inning, pinch hitter Dave Sappelt led off with a walk, and Drew Stubbs also walked one out later.  Joey Votto then doubled again, driving in Sappelt.  It was his 101 Dalbattedins.  Pirates lead, 4-2.
• Jose Veras pitched the eighth inning for Pittsburgh, and started the affair by walking Jay Bruce.  He struck out Devin Mesoraco and Juan Francisco, but did so with a wild pitch for the latter.  Bruce took advantage by taking second.  Edgar Renteria then singled to center field and Bruce flew home.  Pirates win, 4-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• With this loss, the Reds clinched another losing season.  I hope you've stockpiled as many fond memories of 2010 as I have, because they'll need to last you.
• One of the great memories of Reds fans is watching Reggie Sanders and Adam Dunn flirt with 100 RBI seasons and usually fall short.  Joey Votto reached that mark tonight, and is the first Red with back to back century marks since Dave Parker in 1985-6.
• Devin Mesoraco threw out a basestealer!
• The Reds bullpen went unscored on.  Good for them.