Good Joey Votto is Gooder Than Any Cub, Ever. Ever. Reds defeat Cubs, 6-5.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Joseph Daniel Votto is back, friends. Good lord, that feels great to say. Joey had been "maintaining," of sorts, since he returned from his knee injury, but he's increased his production in the last two games. Maybe that's just because he hates the Cubs, but maybe, just maybe, that's because he's back to being his dominant self. Votto went 2 for 4 with a double, 3 RBI, and 2 walks, and carried himself like the classic battleship typical of all great division winners.

Wait, what's that you say? The top of the order actually got on base in front of Votto? Hallelujah! Holy s**t! Where's the tylenol? Drew Stubbs was the primary contributor, going 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Wait, really? He can do that? Against a LHP with a Cubs jersey, he sure as heck can. Salud, good Drewfus.

Key Plays

• The Reds got off to a solid start tonight. In the 1st, Stubbs walked, Votto doubled, Dusty's wildest dreams came true, and all was right with the world. Reds led, 1-0.
• In the 3rd, Mike Leake singled, current future current leadoff maestro Brandon Phillips singled, current future current future debatable current 2nd hitter Stubbs had an infield single, and kaiser permanente 3rd hitter Votto singled to score both Leake and BP. Ryan Ludwick followed with a single, scoring Stubbs. Reds led, 4-0.
• In the 4th, Anthony Rizzo singled, Alfonso Soriano walked, and Rizzo scored when Starlin Castro reached on an infield single. No matter, however, as Scott Rolen's single in the 5th that scored Drew Stubbs kept the lead at 4. Reds led, 5-1.
• Mike Leake hit a wall in the 6th, however. Rizzo singled, and Soriano followed with a video game homer. Castro then singled and scored on Luis Valbuena's double. Yuck. Reds led, 5-4.
• J.J. Hoover channeled his inner Dire Straits in the 8th, walking Darwin Barney, Luis Valbuena, Wellington Castillo, the old lady next door's dog, "it out", Texas Ranger, Bob, and many others. Twasn't pretty, and the Cubs tied it up at 5.
• In the 11th, the Reds finally LOLCubz'd their way to the winning run. BP made it to 2nd on a David DeJesus error, and scored when Drew "MVP/GG" Stubbs singled him in. Broxapotamus shut down the Cubs, and that was that. Reds win, 6-5!

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Wilson Valdez doubled! And he's still hitting under .200 with an OPS below .450. #FreeDiDiGaGa
• Sam LeCure, quietly having a freaking monster bad-ass season, retired all 4 batters he faced tonight, 3 of them by strikeout. He's now sporting a 2.82 ERA on the season.
  
• I can't help it. This song is amazing.
• The first snow of the season hit the mountains this week, and after the lean season that we faced last year, I couldn't be more excited. I bought TGR's "Harvest" in 1998, and I went from thinking I knew how to ski to knowing I had so, so many more balls to grow. This clip is an homage both to that video and great late nights in college and also to the adrenaline impulses I have when I think about this season. If any of you have an inkling to come ski Colorado, for Peteyhendrix's sake, call me up.