I Miss Sean Marshall. Cubs 4, Reds 2.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Shin-Soo Choo wins.

Honestly, there's nothing left to write about him that hasn't already been said. Tonight, Choo was 3 for 4 with a walk and, thankfully, zero HBP. He's been on base 18 of his last 23 plate appearances, and as 'tHom so eloquently* said on the telecast, he now leads the National League in HBP, OBP, Hits, Runs, and BA vs. RHP. I don't care who Justin Upton is or what he thinks he's trying to do right now, Shin-Soo Choo is the current Most Valuable Player in the National League.

Honorable Mention is duly deserved by Tony Cingrani, who was even more dominant in his second MLB start than he was in his first. Tony C struck out 9 Cubs over his 7 IP, walked none, and allowed just 5 hits and 2 ER. When the young'n learns how to control the running game, woof...we're in business, Reds fans.

Key Plays

• Even though Cingrani K'd the side in the Top of the 1st, the Cubs managed to touch him up a bit in the 2nd. Alfonso Soriano led off with a single and proceeded to steal both second base and third base. It's hard to fault Tony, really, since he's so seldom used to having runners on base, but it came back to bite him. Strawberry Hudson, Jr. with a baseball bat then hit a sac fly to score Soriano, and Cody Ransom followed with a solo HR. Reds trailed, 2-0.
• In the Bottom of the 3rd, Chris Heisey un-schneid'd himself with a laser launch to the LF seats for his 2nd HR of the season. Reds trailed, 2-1.
• In the Bottom of the 9th, the Reds still trailed. Choo walked, Cozart sacrificed him to second, and then Joey Votto singled to plate Choo to tie things up. Unfortunately, the bullpen was stretched thin by extra inning games in 2 of the last 3 (and injuries to Sean Marshall and Jonathan Broxton), so Manny Parra was brought on for a second inning in the 10th. That didn't work. Darwin Barney Gold Glove Snitched a HR, Julio Borbon reached on an infield single, advanced on a bunk error on Corky Miller, stole third, and scored on a Dave Sappy Sapp Sapp Sappelt single. The Reds tried to rallied in the Bottom of the 10th, but failed. Reds lose, 4-2.

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-04-23&team=Reds&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-04-23&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• Corky Miller.
• Compared to how I felt this time 24 hours ago, it seems like a million miles from yesterday.
• Corky freakin' Miller.
• Shin-Soo Choo is the NL MVP right now. It's not even close...I don't care who you ask.
• Gov't Mule plays the Taft Theatre on Saturday. The Reds play at 1:05 EST vs. the Nationals, and I strongly suggest you watch the game, have a beverage, and then get your butts to the Taft to see these guys play. You will not be disappointed. Tell 'em, Howie.
• Corky freakin' freakin' Miller, y'all.

*by "eloquently" I really mean completely, utterly, unequivocally snarkly and sarcastic as all hell. Sigh.