Small Ballin' works in Pittsburgh (just don't ask Christina Aguilera's ex). Reds win, 8-1.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star(s) of the Game

We normally don't compromise here at the RR Recap desk, but tonight's going to be a bit different. When two of our boys have nights like Homer and Jay did, we make exceptions.

Homer tossed a complete game 4 hitter, yielding just a single run and walk while striking out 5, and for good measure, he went 2 for 3 with a 2 out RBI at the plate. That's awesome.

Jah Brule seems to be cracking the shell that has encased his weeks long slump, and tonight went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 2 RBIs. That, too, is awesome.

Honorable mentions are due to both Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips. The two infielders combined to give some much needed RH production to the middle of the lineup, with Frazier going 2 for 3 with a double, triple, and HBP, and BP going 2 for 4. That's awesome!

Key Plays

• It's so much easier to recap when the Reds just honk a bunch of solo wangers. What's that? They hit 8 of them? That's awesome, too! Reds win, 8-1!

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Other Notes

• Drew Stubbs and Zack "AAA/platoon" Cozart combined to go 1 for 10 at the top of the lineup. With their OBP's at .281 and .291 respectively, they now have the two lowest OBP's of any regular on the team, Mesoraco and Frazier included. That doesn't scream "most ABs deserved on the team" now, does it?
• Charlie Morton who? The Reds truly are out to prove that everything that happened in 2011 was an aberration.
• According to espn.com, Rod Barajas made his 1,000th career start at catcher tonight, putting him now 3rd on the active list behind A.J. Pierzynski and Ramon Hernandez. Tune in tomorrow for more "Stats So Useless, They Won't Even Be Asked at Bar Trivia...courtesy of the Worldwide Leader."