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Arroyo Goes Filthy. Reds 3, Rockies 0.

I was going to title this "Jayyyyy, Bronson Rocked Ye," but I figured that would get that stuck in your head. Oh, wait....

By Wick Terrell
Too good of a picture to not use.
Too good of a picture to not use.
Joe Robbins

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

The easiest way to mitigate the recent problems faced by the back of the bullpen is to have one of your starters efficiently mow down the opposition and pitch deep (read: 8th inning deep) into a game. Tonight, Bronson Arroyo did just that, and he was relatively spectacular in the process. Early in the game, the Rockies announcers (to whom I got to listen) were somewhat worried about their hitters adjusting to a soft-tosser since they were such good fastball hitters. Well, the proof was in the pudding, and Arroyo shut down the potent Rockies offense to the tune of just 4 hits and zero walks allowed in his 8 IP, 3 K, 86 pitch performance. Vintage Arroyo was delicious tonight.

A very, very, bright and merry Honorable Mention is due to Jay Bruce, who went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, and a HR that sounded as sweet as any I've heard in quite sometime. You may see a HR hit farther, but you will rarely, if ever, see/hear a ball hit as hard and as pure as Jay's HR in the 8th. Hat tips are also due to Todd Frazier, who finagled 2 hits out of 2 of the most contorted swings you'll ever see.

Tonight is hyperbole night at Red Reporter, and it will be the best commenting experience you've ever commented on, guaranteed. Ask 'tHom.

Key Plays

  • The Rockies' Tyler Chatwood was extremely effective early (as was Arroyo), and this pitchers' duel lasted until the Bottom of the 4th, when Bruce Bruced. Jay hit a 2 out single, stole second base, and scored on Frazier's awkard bloop to LF. Reds led, 1-0, and unfortunately Chatwood left with arm soreness immediately afterwards.
  • While Arroyo was busy piling up zeroes rapidly, the Rockies bullpen was matching him inning for inning until the Bottom of the 8th. Zack Cozart hit a 1 out single, and two batters later, Jay Bruce hit a Josh Outman pitch so far Outman that Corky Miller texted Bronson Arroyo to say "that was far out, man," and Chris Welsh's Garcia tie agreed. Aroldis Chapman came on to throw both gas and shade at the heart of the Rockies' order in the 9th, and that was that. Reds win, 3-0!

Respectable Yet Not Remarkable FanGraph Section

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-06-03&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=2013-06-03&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

  • Tonight marked the first time this season that Joey Votto looked at too many pitches. He's slumping, and he's still awesome, but the godly dude himself was just a bit confused on a few rather straight fastballs that he normally smooth-cruises. He'll right the ship, though, likely just in time for the filthy Cards series this weekend.
  • It's Rockies series time, so it's Rockies music time again!
  • Mas? OK! Mas Rocky tunage!
  • Carlos Gonzalez bunted tonight. He obviously didn't read Joel Luckhaupt's tweet* from earlier in the day:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Arroyo (.299/.341/.527) &amp; Chatwood (.315/.404/.445) are two of the 10 worst pitchers in MLB against LHB since start of 2011 (min 500 PA).</p>&mdash; Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) <a href="https://twitter.com/jluckhaupt/status/341612521838481408">June 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

*Slyde reference...DRINK!

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