The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
There weren't a lot of superlative performances tonight, but I have to give this to the freshly called up J.J. Hoover. Hoover was called to action in an extra innings game, and though he bent, he did not break; throwing 2 scoreless innings of 3 hit, 1 walk ball. Honorable mention to Todd ROY Frazier for driving in all three Reds runs on his 1-5 night.
The supergrover Memorial Honorary Comment of the Game Thread:
Crolfer dropped this dandy of a comment when our pal Heeringa found himself in a sticky situation:
Shine on, you crazy diamond.
Key Plays
- The Reds had a stew goin' in the first inning against Cole Hamels. Wolfgang Amadeus Cozart and Young Robert Stubbs led off the game with back to back singles, Bruce struck out, and Ludwick drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Todd ROY Frazier drove in Cozart on a fielder's choice to 3rd, and Miguel Cairo Miguel Cairo'd to SS Jimmy Rollins. Reds lead, 1-0.
- The next four innings were scoreless, as Whole Camels settled down, and Cueto worked his DIPS defying magic to get out of a couple of jams.
- In the top of the 6th, the Reds again led off the inning with back to back singles, this time with the Bruiser and Ducky getting the rally party started. TAAAWWWDD drove them in with a double off the wall that Laynce Nix misplayed off the wall allowing Frazier to make it to 3rd base. With Frazier on 3rd and no outs, the Reds were unable to drive him in, with Cairo and Valdez providing little punch at the back of the lineup. Even though Cueto was clearly struggling and sitting at 97 pitches, Dusty let him bat for himself, and he grounded out to the pitcher, ending the threat. Reds lead, 3-0.
- This decision would come back to haunt the Reds, as Johnny walked Ryan Howard and gave up a double to Bill Hall All-star Dominic Brown, moving Howard's slow ass to 3rd. Jose Arredondo came in to replace Cueto, and Daynce Mix scored Howard on a sac fly, moving Brown to 3rd. Erik Kratz scored Brown on a sac fly, and Rollins grounded out to end the inning. Reds lead, 3-2.
- In the top of the 8th, after striking out Ryan Howard, Sean Marshall gave up a single to Dom Brown. Dusty pulled Marshall and brought in Sam LeCure for some reason. LeCure promptly gave up two singles and a sac fly to tie the game before striking out Ty Wiggington to end the inning. 3-3 ballgame.
- The Reds were able to get the leadoff runner on in the 9th, but came up empty. Fresh from his Louisville callup, J.J. Hoover came on in the 9th, and walked the leadoff batter Juan Pierre. Kevin Frandsen laid down an attempted sacrifice bunt, and reached 1B on a Cairo brain-fart. Hoover was able to induce a weak fly ball from Chase Utley, bringing Ryan "One-Tool" Howard plate. Howard hit a ground ball that Cairo was able to knock down, but was not able to record an out. The aforementioned Reds killer Dominic Brown strode to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, and J.J. Hoover did not suck, getting an inning ending double play. 3-3, free baseball.
- Former Red Jeremy Horst took over in the top of the 10th, and made quick work of the heart of the Reds order, throwing a perfect, 9-pitch inning. In the bottom of the 10th, Hoover returned, and after a quick flyout, allowed a single to Kratz and a double to Jimmy Rollins, bringing up Brian Schnieder with men on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Hoover once again buckled down, getting Schneider to ground out to Frazier and Juan Pierre to fly out. Well done, kid.
- After a 1-2-3 top of the 11th, Chicken Alfredo came in and gave up a single to Frandsen, a double to Chutley, and intentionally walked Howard to load the bases with one out. After a fielder's choice from Dominic Brown, John Mayberry slapped one between SS and 3rd, scoring Utley to win the game. Dang.
Source: FanGraphs
Other Notes
- Splitting this series seems like a moral victory for the Reds considering their recent history in Philadelphia.
- Since you guys seem to like the funk, here are two rare, yet unheralded, SinseeTown funk tracks.
- It's late.