Dat Dude MVP! Reds 4, Brewers 3.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips made a play defensively that would've been good enough to warrant this spot had he gone 0 for 5 with 5 GITPs.

Seriously, it was that good. It's the best play I've seen him make in a Reds uniform, and as we all know, that list is long and distinguished. It was standing ovation worthy on its own merit, and when he followed it up in the next half inning with a solo HR down the LF line that proved to be the winning run, I wrote him in for the JNMHSotG in pen.

Honorable Mentions are due to Shin-Soo Choo who, per usual, was on base in 3 of his 5 PAs tonight (all via walk), and Ryan Hanigan, who went 2 for 4 in his return from the DL (and, to the surprise of nobody, made several fine defensive plays behind the plate).

Key Plays

• It was 0-0 through the first two innings, but the Reds got the scoring started in the Bottom of the 3rd. Choo led off the inning with a walk, and he stole 2B after both Zack Cozart and Joey Votto lined out. Phillips then followed with his league-leading 4400th RBI single, and per 'tHom Brennaman, Jay Bruce begrudgingly followed with an RBI double to score Phillips. Reds led, 2-0.
• That lead was shortlived, unfortunately. To lead off the Top of the 4th, Jean Segura and Ryan Braun hit back to back solo HRs off of Reds' starter Tony Cingrani to equalize. Oh, if only the real Reds would've followed the faux Reds' advice and traded BP for Segura and then traded for Choo...wait...that would've swapped solo HRs and...nevermind. Game tied, 2-2.
• The entirety of the 7th inning was, is, and shall be devoted to Brandon Phillips worship, and rightfully so. In the Top half of the 7th, reliever Sam LeCure ran into a bit of trouble after walking both Norichika "Boom Chicka Boom" Aoki and Jean Segura, and when Ryan Braun stepped to the plate there was a certain air of something special set to happen. They didn't disappoint at all, as LeCure and Braun battled through a 10 pitch AB that resulted in a grounder right back up the middle. Brandon Phillips made a barehanded grab, avoided colliding with Zack Cozart, touched 2B with his knee while falling down, made a timely throw to 1B to double up Braun, and officially convinced me to name my firstborn Brandon Phillips Terrell regardless of gender.
• Just when thought things couldn't get any more radtastic, Phillips launched a moonball HR down the LF line in the Bottom of the 7th to give the Reds a 4-2 lead. After Jonathan Broxton got the Brewers in the 8th, Aroldis Chapman was thawed out, marinated, brought to room temperature, and put on the mound for the 9th...and he looked, well, rusty. Thankfully, he allowed just one run on an Aoki single and subsequent score via wild pitch, and he got Segura swinging to end things. Reds win, 3-2!

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-05-10&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=2013-05-10&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• Day games followed by days off and night games should be outlawed. My little anticipatory heart can barely take it.
• It's officially Songs So Bad They're Good* evening here at RR. Think I'm kidding? Think again.
• Still think I'm kidding? Good lord, you don't know me very well, do ya?
• OK, OK, OK...how about a song so good it's good? Yeah, that'll do. Happy Friday.
• What the hell, Stoll's an old friend of mine. Have another because he kicks ass.
• Oh for God's sake, listen to them all.

*riiiiight.

Injuries and a stagnant offense have plagued the Reds early this season; Brandon Phillips, however, has had nothing to do with that