Closer than our closer would like; Reds beat Yankees, 6-5.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Today's victory was a well-rounded team effort, but our resident Canuck Wanger-Honker gets the nod for the JNMHSotG. Votto had the big knock of the day, a 3-run HR off Ivan Nova in the 5th to break open (at that point) the game. I'm not sure it wouldn't have been an inside-the-parker had it not just barely cleared the wall, since I doubt the Yankees outfielders would have known what to do with a Reds At-Bat that didn't end in strikeout.

Honorable mentions are due to Homer Bailey (quality start, keeping LH's Cano and Granderson at bay), Chris Heisey (2 for 5, RBI double, great catch in LF), and Devin Mesoraco (1 for 3, 2B, R, HBP, only Red to not K). Very extra-special Honorable mention to Mike Costanzo, who picked up his first major league hit (and his second RBI). Congrats, Mr. Sideburns.

Key Plays

• The Reds got havocky early today. In the first, Drew Stubbs walked and stole second, and after Joey Votto walked, Brandon Phillips singled to score Stubbs. That's so, so cleanuppy. The Reds struck again in the second when Devin Mesoraco hit a ground-rule double and later scored on a Chris Heisey double. Reds lead, 2-0.
• Before Jeff Brantley could fully jinx Homer Bailey by telling the radio audience how well he'd looked in retiring the first 6 Yankees in order, Russell Martin smoked a donker on the first pitch of the 3rd inning. In the 4th, Curtis Granderson walked and was out at second on a fielder's choice hit by Robinson Cano, and Cano then scored on a double by the skeleton formerly known as Raul Ibanez. Game tied, 2-2.
• Why anyone ever gives Joey Votto a pitch to hit in a low-leverage situation is beyond me, so the fact that he was given a grooved strike to hit in a high-leverage situation blew me away. Maybe the only TV station Joe Girardi gets is ESPN, in which case he would have never seen the Reds play. That would explain why he let Ivan Nova pitch to our Canuckian boom-crusher with two men on. Votto hit a laser into the right-center bleachers, scoring Wee Willie Valdez and Drew Stubbs. Reds lead, 5-2.
• Jayson Niyx hoynked a soylo waynger in the 5th to make it a 5-3 game, but thankfully, the Reds secret weapon provided them with a 6th run in the 8th inning that would prove to be the difference. Following a Phillips single, Bruce walk, and Frazier reaching on a fielder's choice, Mike Costanzo stung one deep enough to CF to plate Phillips from 3rd base on a sac fly. That would matter because Sean Marshall pitched like he still had that Cub smell on him in the 9th. Marshall gave up hits to the first 2 batters in the 9th and 4 of the 5 batters he faced, allowing two runs before being pulled in favor of Jose Arredondo. Thankfully, Arredondid retire Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson to end the rally. Reds win, 6-5!

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• As was mentioned about 32 times on the radio broadcast, Chris Heisey is red hot at the moment. Ecto-warmer is now 10 for 19 on the road trip. Please keep starting him, Dusty.
  
• Homer Bailey was pretty damn effective today, going 6.1 innings, allowing 3 runs while striking out 7 and walking just one while lowering his season's ERA to 4.34. I don't think there's a single RR who wouldn't take that 10 times out of 10 from Homer this year. Well done, kid. Keep it up and we'll move on to trading Leake for a LF.
• I love the way the Reds have managed to keep winning while Jay goes through one of his patented slumps. He's 1 for his last 15, and hasn't homered in 10 games, but the Reds have managed .500 play through that stretch.
• The Reds struck out 15 times today.