:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32340223/487368657.0.jpg)
The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Billy Hamilton has gradually shrugged off his godawful start to the season and replaced it with a series of competent performances at the top of the order, and tonight's game put on full display the talents that we've hoped to see on a regular basis. Hamilton hit his first big league dinger - a no doubter, at that - and he finished the evening with a 3 for 4 line featuring a walk, stolen base, RBI, and a pair of runs scored.
Welcome back to the JNMHSotG Winner's Circle, Billy.
Honorable Mentions are due to: Joey Votto, who walked thrice; Brayan Pena, who NERT'd his way to a 2 for 4 evening; Zack Cozart, who went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored; and Logan Ondrusek, Sam LeCure, & Jonathan Broxton, who combined for 3 scoreless innings after a series of rain delays.
Key Plays
- The Reds quickly sped their way to a run (/pun'd) courtesy of the fastest man in baseball and the Chicago Cubs doing what they do. Hamilton took a walk to lead things off in the Bottom of the 1st, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch from Jeff Samardzija, and scored on a warning track fly-out from Brandon Phillips. Reds led, 1-0.
- The Cubs put a pair of runs on the board in the Top of the 3rd thanks to a string of singles and walks from the core of their order. Emilio Bonifacio picked up a 1-out single, and he moved to third when Ryan Kalish singled behind him. Anthony Rizzo was then walked to load the bases, and Starlin Castro singled up the middle to score both Bonifacio and Kalish. Reds trailed, 2-1.
- Billy Hamilton led off the Bottom of the 5th inning with a homer. Billy Hamilton homered. Billy Hamilton hit the first HR for the Reds since George Foster in 1977...or so. Game tied, 2-2.
- In the Bottom of the 6th inning, Zack Cozart hit a triple to the wall in CF, and with the pitcher's spot due up in the order and a wall of storms in the area, Bryan Price opted to use his most potent bat against Samardzija in an attempt to take the lead in the event of a potential calling of the game. Chris Heisey was asked to pinch-hit, and the decision paid off for Price when Heisey laced a single to LF that scored Cozart. Reds led, 3-2.
- The much maligned Reds bullpen was called upon to shut down the impotent Cubs offense, and they succeeded. Logan Ondrusek, Sam LeCure, and Jonathan Broxton each tossed a clean inning to back Alfredo Simon, and that was that. Reds win, 3-2!
Source: FanGraphs
- Billy Hamilton now has a higher batting average than Jay Bruce and a higher OPS than Brandon Phillips.
- /makes funny face
- /microwaves a peep for 2 minutes
- For all of the documented struggles facing the Reds bullpen so far this season, both Sam LeCure and Jonathan Broxton have been much needed revelations. If nothing else, Cornelius has been an inspiration to us all. Go grow a beard, would ya?
- Tunes that'll piss off Pops.
