A win this delicious deserves some tunes for your reading, so get funky.
The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Bronson Arroyo continued on his deserved quest for another lucrative contract by spinning his second consecutive gem against the San Francisco Giants, this time to the tune of a 9 inning complete game shutout. Arroyo was never out of control, and his hair was perfect. The crafty Reds' righty allowed just 7 hits - none for extra bases - and walked not a soul en route to a 108 pitch gem. Arroyo's season ERA now sits at 3.19, which is lower than Mat Latos (3.53), Homer Bailey (3.84), Johnny Cueto (3.33), and Tony Cingrani (3.23). Old man is dealing.
Honorable Mentions are due to the entire offense, as they broke out against Tim Lincecum in loud fashion. Shin-Soo Choo, Devin Mesoraco, and Jay Bruce each homered (with Mesoraco threatening for a cycle), Derrick Robinson had 3 hits, 3 runs scored, and a remarkable game-ending catch, and Todd Frazier looked like he had pop back in his recently lethargic bat. In all, it was a remarkable performance by the entire team, one that Reds Nation hopes will parlay into another 2nd half run.
Key Plays
- Big Time Timmy Jim came in fresh off the first and only no-hitter of his already spectacular career, but Shin-Soo Choo spit backwash on that immediately. Choo led off the Top of the 1st with a double, and Derrick Robinson followed with a bunt single that advanced Choo to 3B. Robinson then stole 2B, but Choo was thrown out at home on a soft grounder from Brandon Phillips after Joey Votto struck out. Jay Bruce walked to load the bases, however, and Todd Frazier followed by hitting ball so hard, doubling over CF Andres Torres' head to clear the bases. Reds led, 3-0.
- Things kept rolling right along for the Reds in the Top of the 2nd. Devin Mesoraco led off with a smoke-show solo HR to LF, and two batters later Choo hit one to almost the exact same spot. Reds led, 5-0.
- Jay Bruce kept the power-party poppin' in the Top of the 3rd, as he launched a moon shot over the high brick wall in right-center on a Lincecum off-speed pitch for his 20th HR of the season. That gave the Reds a ripe ol' 6-0 lead, but they didn't slow down there. In the Top of the 4th, Robinson singled and advanced to 3B on a single by Joey Votto, and Brandon Phillips followed with an opposite field double that scored Robinson. Votto moved to 3B, and after adeptly noticing a bobbled relay throw, he sprinted home to score. Reds led, 8-0.
- In the Top of the 5th, Todd Frazier hit a 1 out double, and he scored two batters later on a single from Mesoraco. In the Top of the 6th, Robinson led off with a single, and he moved to 2B on a single from PH Jack Hannahan (who came in for Votto). A Cesar Izturis groundout moved both runners up a base, and Bruce followed with a sac-fly to plate Robinson. Reds led, 10-0.
- In the Top of the 6th, the Reds tacked on yet another run, as Mesoraco hit a 1 out double and later scored two batters later when Xavier Paul doubled to the RF wall to make it an 11-0 rout. Bronson Arroyo continued to cruise, and his ability to shut the Giants down went down like clockwork. Reds win, Charlie Scrabbles to nothing!
FanGraph Section That's as Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow
<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-07-22&team=Giants&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=2013-07-22&team=Giants&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>
Other Notes
- Mark Berry made his return to official duty with the Reds following his season-long fight against cancer, and the Reds' offense responded accordingly. Seeing Berry in the 3B coach's box just seemed right, and it's damn, damn nice to see coach back there. In fact, it's a game that's fully worthy of the second supergrover Remember This Moment of the season. Berry's been an easy target through the years because he serves in a role that only really gets noticed when things go wrong, but he's been an integral part of the coaching staff for years, a right-hand man to Dusty Baker for years, and a guy the current Reds' roster is extremely familiar with, and I'm sure they're extremely glad to see him back in action.
- This was Bronson's second consecutive complete game victory against the Giants, although the last one was his 6 inning performance that was called early due to rain. Tonight's win, of course, was also his 100th as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Props to Bronson, the Nasty Hook, his hair, and his Saturn Nuts on the milestone.
- Every Reds starter had at least a hit tonight. Giggity!
- Tim Lincecum remains winless in his career against the Reds, as tonight's effort left him at 0 and 3. Emo Drew Stubbs shrugs.
- More tunes? More tunes.
- Hopefully, this 3-1 start to the 2nd half (coupled with the announcement that Ryan Ludwick will start his rehab assignment) means the Reds are poised to inflict some pain on the NL for the next few months. We can hope.
- Chris Welsh and George Grande are the best. I don't care what you say. If the Reds win a World Series in the next few years, those are the two I want to call it. I don't want to hear about ribs, golf, or lack of situational hitting while winning...I want to hear two people who sound like they want to be there, and those two do. Good to hear ya again, Georgie. Smilin' side of the scoreboard, indeed.