Boring is as Boring Does...Until Drew Stubbs is Up At Bat. Reds defeat Astros, 5-3.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Drew Stubbs just keeps on Stubbin'. Stubbs entered today with a post-ASB line of .300/.364/.400, and he continued his hot hitting tonight with a 2 for 5, 3 RBI evening. Look, his defense has never been a question mark, and for all intents and purposes, neither has his position as a regular on the Reds. The reason he's been mentioned in trades is due to his manager's penchant for batting CFs at the top of the lineup, spots where he's struggled. The Reds need another LH bat (unless Xavier Paul continues what he's doing), and Stubbs has to know it; its admirable to see a guy who knows his job is on the line step up and perform, and that's exact what he's doing. Props, Stubby.

Honorable mentions are due to Paul, of course, who had a huge pinch hit double to leadoff the 9th inning rally; Jay Bruce, who was 2 for 4 with a BB and an RBI 2B in the 9th; Devin Mesoraco, who was 2 for 3 with a 2B (getting his OBP over the .300 level); and Homer Bailey, who struggled a bit, but also managed to toss 7 scoreless innings with 7 Ks. Sweeeeeeeeppp!

Key Plays

• The game was quiet until the Top of the 3rd. Mesoraco led off with a single, and after a Homer Bailey sacrifice and a Cozart strikeout, Stubbs doubled down the right field line to plate Mes. Reds lead, 1-0.
• Boring was boring until it became un-boring in the Top of the 8th. Cozart walked, but was out on a Drew Stubbs' fielder's choice. Jay Bruce followed with a single, and they both thought it awesome enough to double steal. Ryan "Cleanup" Ludwick was intentionally walked to set up a potential double play, but Old Man didn't oblige, singling to right to score Stubbs. Bruce was allegedly out at home, which held the score at 2-0 Reds.
• Unfortunately, the Lurch. Ondrusek was brought on for the 8th, but allowed a leadoff double. After two hard hit outs had us hoping he could escape the jam, Someguy Moore doubled, scoring Jose Altuve to end the shutout. Dusty entrusty'd Ondrusek to get out of the inning, but that proved to be unwise as Moore advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a double by J.D. Martinez. Funny thing, that double; Ryan Ludwick and Wilson Valdez combined to commit two separate throwing errors, allowing Martinez to score the go-ahead run. Reds trail, 3-2.
• Enter Coco Cordero...again. Dusty pinch hit with Xavier Paul to lead off the 9th, and he responded with a double. Chris Heisey was rather questionably brought in to pinch hit for the 2 for 3 Mesoraco, and promptly struck out. Huh. Brandon Phillips was brought in to pinch hit for the pitcher's spot, and drew a solid walk on a long count. Zack Cozart struck out (sigh), but that brought up resident Coco-crusher Drew Stubbs, and he followed through with a two-run double to deep center to give the Reds the lead. Jay Bruce singled, scoring Stubbs to tack on an insurance run, and Aroldis Chapman was brought in to shut things down in the 9th, which he did. Reds win, 5-3! Sweeeeeeppppp!

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Tonight's win makes 7 in a row. The Reds had entered today's game with 4 separate streaks of 6 wins or more; no other team in baseball had more than 2 win streaks of 6 games or more entering today.
• The Reds have an off-day tomorrow, but will then make their way West to Denver to face the Rockies for a three game series. My time has come!