Latos Knows Catching Fish. Reds win, 5-3.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

I don't care who the Reds are playing; if their pitcher tosses 8.1 innings of 2 run ball, he gets the nod.

Mat Latos continued his rock solid start to the season tonight, allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs. It was once again frustrating to watch him not pick up the win, but that's just baseball. Latos allowed a leadoff...wait, what? Juan Pierre hit a freaking home run to start the game? That's gotta be a typo...no? It's not? Well, damn. Regardless, Latos proceeded to retire 17 of the next 18 batters he faced and looked dominant all evening. Sign him, Walter.

Honorable Mention is due to Jay Bruce, who continues to heat up. Bruce was 2 for 4 tonight with 3 RBI, including the 2 run double he hit in the Top of the 10th that proved to be the difference in the game. He was hot before Dusty gave him the day off, but since he's been back, he's had 2 hits in each game. Here's to hoping it continues, since watching Hard Jay be Hot Jay is about as good as it gets. Hat tip to J.J. Hoover's beard, which looks rad.

Key Plays

• Somehow we entered some sort of parallel universe to start this game, and I'm not exactly sure what the hell happened. Juan Pierre, he of 17 career HRs in over 8,000 career PAs, hit a high fastball over the RF wall for his first of the season. No, I have no idea how that materialized. Reds trailed, 1-0.
• It took until the Top of the 4th for the Reds to get even. Joey Votto doubled down the LF line, and two batters later Jay Bruce hit an opposite field single to score Votto. Game tied, 1-1.
• In the Top of the 6th, Brandon Phillips turned around a low Jose Fernandez fastball and sent it deep over the LF wall to give the Reds a 2-1 lead. Mat Latos then cruised through the first 8.1 IP in search of his first complete game of the year, but that was derailed by an Adeiny Hechavarria triple (I swear he'll have a timely hit in every game against the Reds just so I have to type his name eleven times before getting it spelled right). Aroldis Chapman was summoned to get the save, but he allowed another triple, this time on a deep shot from Marcel Ozuna that scored Adeiny for the tie. Game tied, 2-2, and to extras we went.
• The Reds wasted no time in retaking the lead, as pinch hitter Donald Lutz uberschnitzeled der wurf into RF for a single, Shin-Soo Choo walked, and then we all collectively facepalmed. Zack Cozart Dustybunted them to 2nd and 3rd so that Joey Votto could draw an intentional walk to load the bases, because who would want the best hitter on the planet to have a chance to hit with runners on in extra innings anyway? P'shaw. Anyhoo, Votto walked, and Brandon Phillips followed with a line-shot to Noodlearm McGee in LF allowing Lutz to score. Jay Bruce then Hova'd a fishpitch for a double down the line for 2 more insurance runs. J.J. Hoover was brought on to close things out, and after he got the first two outs, he walked Nick Green. Green then stole 2B and scored on a Matt Diaz single, but Groundout McGee then hit a notanotherhomer that BP fielded to end the game. Reds win, 5-3!

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-05-16&team=Marlins&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=2013-05-16&team=Marlins&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• Reds relievers have now blown 3 saves this season. All 3 have been in starts by Mat Latos. Ouch.
• Brandon Phillips now leads the NL in RBPI with 36. Jam.
• This song has a Farney-level of bad words in it. Jam.
• Johnny was awfully good on his rehab the other night and is set to return to the Reds on Monday. Does that mean Tony Cingrani, who starts tomorrow against the Phillies, is set for his last start in the big leagues for awhile? Tune in next time! Same Bat time, same Bat channel!