Reds 15, Pirates 5 - Brandon Phillips has monster 2 HR night to pace Cincinnati

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips put on a show on Thursday night, as the veteran 2B bonked 2 homers, stole 2 bases, had a 4 hit evening, and drove in a sugar-upping 7 runs.  The entire Cincinnati Reds offense blasted Pittsburgh Pirates starter A.J. Burnett, the Buccos bullpen, and the outfield seats, but it was Phillips who had a night for the ages.  I suppose it's comforting to note that Reds that aren't enveloped in trade talk and appear to be around for awhile when bonkers on the evening, right?

Have a trophy, BP, and since it looks like you'll still be a Red when the dust settles tomorrow, keep whacking those dingers on the regular.

Honorable Mentions are due to:  David Holmberg, who allowed 2 ER in 6 solid IP (and even singled and scored a run in his season debut); Keyvius Sampson, who K'd 2 in his 1 inning MLB debut; Joey Votto, who had a 3 for 4 evening that featured 2 walks, a double, and 3 runs scored; Marlon Byrd, who went 3 for 6 with a double, a dinger, and 3 ribbies; Ivan De Jesus, who went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored; you, since you probably had at least a 2 hit evening; Billy Hamilton, who went 2 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 2 steals; and some other Red, since they all scored seven times apiece.

Key Plays

• The Reds jumped on A.J. Burnett in the Bottom of the 1st, as Byrd's 3-run blast followed a single from Ivan De Jesus and one of Votto's walks.  Reds led, 3-0.
• Pedro Alvarez channeled his inner Commodore in the Top of the 2nd and blasted a solo dinger over the CF wall to get the Pirates on the board.  The Reds got that run back in the Bottom of the 3rd, though, as Bruce eventually lifted a sac fly to score Votto, who had doubled earlier.  Reds led, 4-1.
• Billy Hamilton went to work in the Bottom of the 4th, as he reached on an infield single, stole both 2B & 3B, and scored when Phillips poked a single past a drawn-in infield.  Reds led, 5-1.
• The Bottom of the 5th saw the Reds offense explode.  Tucker Barnhart was hit by a pitch with 1-out to start things, Holmberg singled behind him, and Barnhart then scored when Hamilton reached on a throwing error by Alvarez.  That chased Burnett, but Phillips promptly smacked a 3-run dinger, and that was followed by a single from De Jesus, a walk from Votto, a wild pitch that moved De Jesus to 3B, and an eventual 2-run double to the wall in CF from Bruce.  Reds led, 11-1.
• Andrew McCutchen scored for Pittsburgh in the Top of the 6th on a sac fly.  But, whatever, since Phillips launched yet another dinger in the Bottom of the 6th, another 3-run jack that scored Skip Schumaker.  Reds led, 14-2.
• Ryan Mattheus was summoned to pitch the Top of the 7th, and that went rather shoddily.  He allowed 3 ER on 4 hits.  Reds led, 14-5.
• Just because this recap wasn't already long enough, the Reds loaded the bases in the Bottom of the 7th, and they scored a 2-out run when PH Jason Bourgeois drew a walk.  Reds led, 15-5.
• After that, Pedro Villarreal dodged a few baserunners to wrap the evening for the good guys, and the Reds took home a victory, 15-5!