No Runs, No Cueto. Rangers 4, Reds 0.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Zack Cozart went 2 for 3 with the Reds' only extra base hit of the evening (a double), so he gets the nod tonight after another rather lackluster performance by the team offense.

Brandon Phillips returned to the lineup after his stint on the paternity list with a 2 for 4 evening from his customary cleanup position, and Jay Bruce followed him with a 2 for 4 evening for himself.

A hat tip is deserved for young Mr. Starter Tony Cingrani, too. Despite his rather pedestrian performance, he didn't completely implode upon being summoned early and unexpectedly from the bullpen to replace Johnny Cueto. Buck up, kid...you're gonna get a lot of chances this year.

Key Plays

• Johnny Cueto appeared to be working slower than he normally does (both in his time between pitches and his pitch velocity), but that was initially chalked up to working with Devin Mesoraco as his catcher for the first time ever. Cueto's fastball sat between 89-91 during the Bottom of the 1st, and Elvis Andrus took advantage with a slow chopper to the left side that resulted in an infield single. Andrus then stole 2nd easily, and Adrian Beltre followed with an RBI single. Reds trailed, 1-0.
• Feces hit the fan in the Bottom of the 2nd, unfortunately. Cueto began the inning facing Mitch Moreland, but he was visibly hurt after just a few pitches and was removed with obvious frustration on his face. Tony Cingrani, who will likely take Cueto's spot in the rotation (again), was called in from the pen and had a hard time finding the strike zone. He allowed a walk to Jurickson Profar, a single to David Murphy, a steal to Murphy, a walk to Ian Kinsler, a based loaded walk to Andrus, and another bases loaded walk to Nelson Cruz before finally getting Adrian Beltre to line out. Reds trailed, 3-0.
• The Rangers tacked on another run in the Bottom of the 5th when Beltre led off with a single, moved to 2nd after a walk to Moreland, and scored on a Profar single. The Reds scattered a few hits the rest of the way, but ultimately mustered little in terms of a rally. Reds lose, 4-0.

Utterly Depressing FanGraph, Take 3

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-06-28&team=Rangers&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=2013-06-28&team=Rangers&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

other.notes

• It appears that Cueto has reinjured the same lat that has given him issues multiple times in the last calendar year. I'd be shocked if he's back in a jiffy.
• The Reds lost for the third time in a row and for the sixth time in their last 7 games.
• In their last 15 games, the Reds have scored 0, 0, 3, 4, 3, 5, 3, 2, 0, 4, 5, 0, 4, 5, and 2 runs. For you counting folks out there, that's 40 runs scored in their last 15 games, 4 shutouts, and no games with more than 5 runs scored (one of which they lost, by the way). The offense is struggling. There's no two ways around it.
• The Reds have been held scoreless for 22 consecutive innings, which is the 2nd longest scoreless innings streak since 1989.
• If this keeps up, I'm gonna have to shave my beard.
• More tunes. I need to forget this road trip ever happened.
• This is going to work. This is going to work. This is going to work.