Broomson Arroyo? I'm So Sorry. Reds 5, Cubs 0.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Bronson Arroyo threw an absolute gem of a game today, allowing just two baserunners through 7 sparkling innings.  Goodroyo struck out 7 Cubs, walked none of them, and allowed just two singles, both of which were grounders up the middle (one of which was nearly snagged by Brandon Phillips only to have it bounce off his glove).  Grahamophone with be by in a bit to inform us of Bronson's Game Score, I'm sure, and I wouldn't be surprised to find it near the very top of the Reds' season list.

Honorable Mentions are due to:  Todd Frazier, who had a moon-shot HR, a double, and scored twice; Zack Cozart, who was 2 for 4 with an RBI double; and Ryan Hanigan, who was 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Key Plays

• Todd Frazier put the good guys on the board first today, as he flew one to the moon for the first time since July 1st in the Top of the 1st off of Cubs' starter Chris Rusin.  Frazier tucked it just inside the fair pole down the LF line, and his teammates in the dugout gave him the requisite silent treatment - for awhile - when he got back to the dugout.  Let's hope Todd's offensive demons have been exorcised.  Reds led, 1-0.
• It stayed a 1-0 game into the 5th inning due to Arroyo's dominance and the Reds' offense making sleepytime, but a one out single by Cozart followed by a double by Hanigan changed that.  Reds led, 2-0.
• In the Top of the 7th, Jay Bruce got in on the action as he doubled to RF with one out.  It was the 150th double of the still-young RF's career, and he celebrated by scoring two batters later when Cozart doubled down the LF line.  Chris Heisey led off the Top of the 8th with a shot of a grounder to the 3B side, and while it very easily could've been scored a hit, Cody Ransom was given an error, which is OK because it means that the Cubs continued to Cub today, too.  Frazier and Joey Votto followed with consecutive RBI doubles, and Alfredo Simon and Jonathan Broxton combined to finish off the shutout by throwing a clean 8th and 9th innings.  Reds win, 5-0!

FanGraph Section that Does Justice to Exactly How Little Impact the Cubs Had Today

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-08-14&team=Cubs&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=2013-08-14&team=Cubs&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• The Reds have won 15 of their last 16 games in Wrigley, and they've taken 22 of their last 27 overall against the Cubs.  Hey Bud, can you kick some more teams out of the NL Central so the Reds can play the Cubs a few more times a year?  Yeah.  That'd be great.
• The Reds have now won 8 of their last 10 games; sometimes, if you're doing it right, getting your ass handed to you 15-2 on national television can actually be a good thing.
• Cubs fans in Wrigley that would have usually been doing too many other things to pay attention to what their team did were the real lucky ones today, as they got to do what they do without actually missing out on seeing the Cubs do something.  Arroyo was good, mind you, but that was as much of an IDGAF performance by a team as you'll find.
• Tunes?  Tunes!