July 1st, 2012: A Day That Will Live in Infamy...to Reds Fans. Giants Defeat Reds, 4-3.

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

As the All-Star game approaches, there will be ample opportunity to celebrate the successes of Joey Votto, Aroldis Chapman, and Jay Bruce; today, however, we here at the Red Reporter Star Giving Bureau are going to honor two Reds who deserve every bit of the recognition bestowed upon their three brethren. Therefore, Johnny Cueto (he of the lowest ERA in all of baseball over the 2011-2012 seasons) and Brandon Phillips (reigning and future 2B Gold Glover) get the nod(s).

Honorable mention is due to Ryan Ludwick (3 for 4 today) and, more specifically, Todd Frazier. If 175 PAs over the first half of the season is a big enough sample size for you (it is for me), then you'll be happy to know that entering today's game, Frazier and Jay Bruce had identical .327 OBPs and identical .526 SLGs. Frazier hit a huge 2-run HR today, and is now leading the team (mortal human edition) in OPS. Someone owes Madville a beer.

Key Plays

• Bronson Arroyo wasn't Badroyo today, but he certainly wasn't sharp. He managed to scatter a few hits early, but was finally bit in the 3rd. Arroyo allowed consecutive singles to Ryan Theriot (!), Starting NL All-Star (!!) Melky Cabrera, and leading NL All-Star vote-getter (!!!!!!) Buster Posey, which scored the Riot. Giants lead, 1-0.
• In the Top of the 5th, Ryan Ludwick led off with a single, and after a great AB, Todd Frazier hit a 2-run bomb out to Left Field on a full count. Reds lead, 2-1.
• Unfortunately, that lead was short lived, as the Riot hit a double in the bottom half of the inning (!!!!!), and scored on a Cabrera single. Game tied, 2-2.
• Lance Lynn is an All-Star; Johnny Cueto is not. Just saying.
• Logan Ondrusek, so strong at the start of the season, struggled a bit in the 7th. After issuing a leadoff walk to Ryan Theriot (!!!!!!!) and watching him advance to second on a Cabrera sacrifice, Ondrusek tossed a wild pitch that allowed the Riot to move to third. Bust a Move singled, and the Reds trailed again, 3-2.
• The top of the 9th was both awesome and sucked. Needing a run, the Reds battled their way into a legitimate chance to take command of the game and, as a result, win 3 of 4 on the road against the NL West leaders. Jay Bruce led off with a single, and Ryan Ludwick, Todd Frazier, and Miguel Cairo singled behind him, Cairo's scoring Bruce. That left the Reds with the bases loaded with no outs, a tie game, and the most lethal reliever in baseball warming up in the pen (no, not Jose Arredumpsterfire; we'll get to him in a minute). Unfortunately, Ryan Hanigan struck out, and with Scott Rolen and Joey Votto both out injured but not DL'd, WIlson Valdez was called upon as the only viable pinch-hitter, and he promptly struck out on three pitches. Zack Cozart lined out to Brandon Belt on the first pitch of his at bat, and the Giants escaped. Dern.
• As fate would have it, Arredondo came on to finish up an ultimately miserable day in Reds land. Buster Posey hit a ground rule double, Pablo Sandoval was intentionally walked, and Angel Pagan hit a "double" to All-Star Jay Bruce that made Jay look like a little leaguer, and that scored Posey. Giants win, 4-3.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Yet another 1 run loss. Yuck.
• Don't get me started on the coach of this year's NL All-Star team.
• Jose Arredondo's 2012 ERA is now at 37.12. Oh, wait...it's only 2.12? Dang. Well, his xFIP is right at 4.00, and his BABIP is at an absurdly low .225, so that's probably while I think that he's been nowhere near effective enough to pitch in high leverage situations.
• Robert Palmer and Peter Gabriel are the same person, right? No? Well, either way it feels like I get hit up side the head by one of these today. For TLR, having Huston Street and Lance Lynn on his roster must've just been simply irresistible.