Walks haunted. MIA 4, CIN 3

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Jay Bruce had a solo home run and reached base on an error, which is good enough for me.  If the Reds really intend to compete for a playoff spot, whether it be a division championship or a wild card berth, they need Bruce to put the team on his back and get hot like we all know he's capable of.

Honorable mentions go to Jumbo Diaz for pitching an inning and a third allowing no hits and one walk, and to Devin Mesoraco for his two walks and one run performance.

Key Plays

• Christian Yelich led off the top of the first with a double.  Donovan Solano sacrificed him to third, then Giancarlo Stanton hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Yelich. Marlins lead 1-0.
• In the bottom of the first, Jay Bruce tied the game with a line drive home run to right field.  Tie game, 1-1.
• In the top of the second inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off the inning with a walk, and then Adieny Hechavarria singled, and Brad Penny sacrificed to advance the runners.  Saltalamacchia then scored on a Yelich ground out.  Marlins lead 2-1.
• In the bottom of the third inning, Billy Hamilton bunted his way onto first base, and Bruce reached on an error which advanced Hamilton to third.  After a Bruce stolen base, Todd Frazier singled to score Hamilton, and Bruce was gunned down at home plate trying to score as well.  But the Reds tied the game, 2-2.
• In the sixth inning, with Sam LeCure pitching, Saltalamacchia led off with a walk and Hechavarria followed with a single.  After a Jordany Valdespin sacrifice, Yelich scored Saltalamacchia with a sacrifice fly, and then Solano drove Hechavarria in with a double.  Marlins lead 4-2.
• In the bottom of the eighth inning, Devin Mesoraco led off with a double down the left field line, and a pinch hitting Brayan Pena singled to place runners at first and third with no out.  Skip Schumaker then grounded into a fielder's choice to score Mesoraco but Mike Leake, running for Pena, was out at second.  Marlins lead 4-3.
• Kristopher Negron struck out and Zack Cozart grounded out to end the threat.
• In the bottom of the ninth, Marlins closer Steve Cishek gave up a leadoff single to Chris Heisey, who was promptly picked off first base.  Hamilton then flied out and Bruce struck out to end the game.

Fangraph:

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2014-08-09&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=2014-08-09&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes:

• Reds pitching was unusually sloppy tonight, allowing eight walks throughout the game.
• Tomorrow the Reds will send Johnny Cueto to the mound to try to avoid the sweep.  The game will also determine the winner of the 2014 season series between the Reds and Marlins.
• Aroldis Chapman extended his MLB record streak of appearances with at least one strikeout to 48.  It had to be extra sweet for Chapman with the record-extending strikeout coming at the expense of Giancarlo Stanton.  He added a strikeout of Jarrod Saltalamacchia just for good measure.
• As an out-of-towner, I wasn't able to watch the Reds Hall of Fame ceremonies prior to the game.  For those who watched it, how was it?
• Listening to the radio broadcast, Mary Brennaman mentioned that the current Red ownership has truly embraced the long and storied history of the Cincinnati Reds franchise, far more so than previous regimes have.  As a Reds fan with a fondness for baseball history, this is a pleasing development.
• Summertime Tune