Windians? Not Tonight, Either. Reds 8, Indians 2.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Just a mere 6 days after Howard Megdal detailed how the Reds have been powered by their draft picks of the last decade, tonight's game was won primarily through those not drafted by Chris Buckley and Co. Instead, Xavier Paul (3 for 4, 2 RBI), Mat Latos (6.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 K), Jack Hannahan (2 for 5, RBI), Shin-Soo Choo (2 for 3, BB, 2B, HBP), and Brandon Phillips (2 for 4, 2 R) all powered the Reds to their victory over the cross-state rivals tonight. None of these players were drafted by the Reds, and while they've all been integral parts of the team (some for several years now), it's truly remarkable the production they've provided given that there's likely not a single player given up by the Reds in exchange that would start a game over any of them. Well, perhaps Didi, but the point still stands.

Honorable mention is due to several drafted Reds (Joey Votto and his 2 for 4, R, BB, RBI night; Zack Cozart and his 3 for 5, R, RBI night) and a few other undrafted Reds (Manny Parra, for his ability to get Jason Kipnis out as LOOGY despite the general uproar when he was brought in; and Derrick Robinson, for going 1 for 1 with an RBI and listening to Votto even when Votto was wrong). Yeah, a good game was enjoyed all around.

Key Plays

• The Reds scored all the runs they would ultimately need in the 1st tonight. Choo led off with a ground rule double that he may or may not have thought was a HR, Cozart followed with a bunt single, and Votto then singled to drive in Choo and move Cozart to third. A wild pitch by Zack "Lance" McAllister moved Votto to second, and Xavier Paul followed later with a soft liner to CF that scored them both. Reds led, 3-0.
• Mat Latos cruised through the first 2 innings before running squarely into the havoc that is Drew Stubbs* in the Top of the 3rd. Stubbs singled, stole second, and then scored on a single by Michael Bourn. Reds led, 3-1.
• Things stayed 3-1 until the Bottom of the 7th when, much to 'tHom's elation, the Reds quit leaving runners on base and started to clutch in some clutch runs through clutchy clutchiness. BP reached on an infield single, XP singled to RF, and Devin Mesoraco reached when Carlos Santana overran a swinging bunt and threw the ball into RF to allow BP to score. Hannahan followed with a single to plate XP, and Robinson pinch-hit singled to score Mesoraco. Someguy Barnes was then summoned to pitch for the Fighting Franconas, and he promptly threw a wild pitch in his first offering before hitting Choo. Zack Cozart then singled to score Hannahan, and since Joey Votto's knee had him fearful to make anyone slide unnecessarily in a game already out of reach, he didn't signal for Robinson to slide into home, and he was tagged out. Regardless, the Reds had broken the game open and led 7-1.
• In the 8th, Alfredo Simon struck out Nick Swisher, but a passed ball by Mesoraco allowed him to reach first. Swisher then bro'd his way to second on a grounder, sup brah'd his way to third on a flyout, and dude-brah'd his way home on a Michael Brantley single. Just to keep things interesting, though, Jay Bruce marbled a Matt Albers' cheeseball to the wall for a double to score BP from 1st in the Bottom of the 8th, and Simon shut the door to end things in the 9th. Reds win, 8-2!

Because FanGraphs are awesome:

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-05-28&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=2013-05-28&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

*once every 27 PAs.

Other Notes

• MLB.TV crapped out and crashed at least 7 times while trying to watch the game, so I was forced to guess about half of the Recap. How'd I do?
• SB Nation seems to have a few formatting issues dogging them right now, so if the font changes scream "KMIB'S ON THAT WHISKEY AGAIN!" then I apologize.
  
• I may, or may not, actually be on that whiskey again.
• Some songs are good, and some are just better than anything that's ever tried to sound like them. This is one of the latter.