Reds offense takes league-lead in silent game. ARI 2, CIN 1

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Devin Mesoraco went 2 for 5 with a walk and a solo dinger, and that was the extent of the Cincinnati Reds offense on the evening.

15 innings.  1 run.

The Arizona Diamondbacks entered tonight's game with the 2nd worst ERA in the National League behind only the Colorado Rockies.  Dang.

Honorable Mentions are due to:  the pitching staff, who did more than enough to get the win for the Reds tonight.  Homer Bailey pitched quite well, allowing just a single run in his 8 innings pitched.  Aroldis Chapman, Jonathan Broxton, Jumbo Diaz, and Sam LeCure combined for shutout innings, and even J.J. Hoover wasn't terrible (despite allowing the game-winning run in his 2nd inning of work).

NEED MOAR BATS.

Key Plays

• Mesoraco opened the ledger for the Reds in the Bottom of the 2nd with a towering dinger to the second deck in LF to lead off the inning.  After Chris Heisey popped out, Brayan Pena then hit a liner to the corner in RF for a double, and Negron then followed with a softly lined single to CF for the third hit in four batters to start the inning.  I mention that because, for some reason, 3B coach Steve Smith thought it wise to wave Pena around 3B in an attempt to score where he promptly became the 22nd Reds baserunner to be thrown out at home plate this season, the most in the majors.  There was just one out, three of four Reds had hit Chase Anderson hard, the Reds have shown an awful penchant for getting runners even to 3B, and Smith sent the 32 year old backup catcher home only to see him nailed so badly it didn't even warrant a slide.  At least the game wasn't decided by a single run, or anything.  Reds led, 1-0.
• 2014's fantastic (no) luck reared its ugly head again in the Top of the 4th, as Mark Trumbo hit a 2-out laser to the wall in RF that went in and out of Jay Bruce's glove for what would have been the 3rd out of the inning, and - of course - Miguel Montero followed with a single off the wall to drive in that runner.  Game tied, 1-1.
• Hours went by with literally, figuratively, imaginarily nothing happening.  At all.
• In the Top of the 15th, Arizona finally got a run.  A 1-out walk to Martin Prado haunted J.J. Hoover, as Prado was productively moved to 2B before being knocked in thanks to a single up the middle by Nick Ahmed.  The Reds then got a walk in their comeback attempt, but of course got no hit to drive that run in.  Reds lose, 2-1.