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Reds Kick A's! Reds 3, A's 1.

It seems like it's been quite awhile since the Reds had full control over an entire game, but this one was a throwback. A sign of things to come, perhaps?

By Wick Terrell
OH MY GOD THAT HAIR...JAY BRUCE IS LON CHENEY, JR!
OH MY GOD THAT HAIR...JAY BRUCE IS LON CHENEY, JR!
Joe Robbins

Pre-tunes? Pre-tunes!

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Mat Latos just continues to kick ass, and kick ass, and kick ass, and kick more ass. Tonight was no different, as he motored through 7.1 shutout innings tonight, picking up his defense's lapses at times while keeping the ball down and in the zone against a team that's stingy with their pitch selections. Latos hit a bit of a bumpy patch about a month ago, but he's rebounded to show us all, once again, that he's worth every penny and prospect the Reds have exchanged for him.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Joey Votto, who was 2 for 3 with 2 deliciouses; Jay Bruce, who Chuck Taylor'd the 1950's out of a Dan Straily fastball; and Dusty Baker, for remembering Aroldis Chapman existed.

Key Plays

  • Jay Bruce kicked the Reds into high gear when he led off the Bottom of the 2nd, as he waited on a Dan Straily sortafastball and hit it the other way for a line-drive HR. Reds led, 1-0.
  • In the Bottom of the 3rd, Brandon Phillips came to the plate with one out and runners on 1st and 3rd for the second time in the game, and he redeemed himself with a run-scoring single following his GIBP in the Bottom of the 1st. Reds led, 2-0.
  • Shin-Soo Choo led off the Bottom of the 5th with a double to the wall in centerfield, and when Derrick Robinson was (again) asked to bunt (again), reliever Jerry Blevins promptly threw it into right field, thereby allowing Choo to trot home. Reds led, 3-0.
  • Aroldis Chapman? Aroldis Chapman! The Reds' closer finally was asked to pitch tonight, and he gave up a homer to some guy who nevermind it's not important. Aroldis Chapman! He pitched! He's alive, and well! Reds win, 3-1!

FanGraphs Section That Reminds Us Why We Liked FanGraphs Sections in the First Place: Winning!

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-08-06&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=2013-08-06&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

*Thanks, BubbaFan!

Other Notes

  • Teddy Kremer was back in the Reds' dugout tonight, and I find zero coincidence that the Reds played well as a result. Welcome back, Teddo!
  • Joey Votto is batting a billion with a trillion SLG since the break. Right, Slyde?
  • Tunes? Tunes!
  • For Pops.
  • For Madville.

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