Jimmy puts the Reds offense in a full Nelson, Arroyo not sharp in a 5-1 loss to the Brewers

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Because I’m a damn coward, I’m going to give the JNMHSotG to two players.

Billy Hamilton looked as if he was going to beat the Brewers on his own toward the beginning of the game. After hitting a leadoff single, he stole second, and then scored on a couple of sac flies. In both the first and second innings, Billy did what he always does, making seemingly impossible plays in center field look not only easy, but practically effortless. He didn’t get a chance to do much thereafter; Bronson was giving up rockets and Jimmy Nelson got into a groove. But still, watching Billy Hamilton play baseball every night is a goddamn treat, and he showed why right off the jump tonight.

Despite Hamilton getting the only run tonight, I can’t not talk about Zack Cozart. He went 3-3 tonight, and has at least one hit in every single game he’s played season. He’s on an absolute roll right now (despite missing games with a sore wrist), while still being as sure handed as you can possibly expect at SS. No one besides Dick Williams knows what the future holds for the veteran shortstop but I promise you this: I’ll miss Zack Cozart when he’s gone. I’ll bet you will to.

Honorable mention to: the Reds bullpen, which shut ‘em down again tonight. Drew Storen and Barrett Astin combined for 3 IP of 0 ER, 3 H, 3 K, 1 BB baseball.

Key Plays

• Billy began the ball game with a looped bloop into left field. Then, it was Billy Ball time. He stole second, of course, before Jose Peraza moved him to third with a fly to right. Joey Votto battled Jimmy Nelson for eight pitches before lifting a sac fly to left, scoring Hamilton. Reds up after one full, 1-0.
• The Brew Crew got after Bronson in the top of the 3rd, as Manny Pina and Orlando Arcia knocked back to back singles to the right side to begin the inning. Nelson laid down a decent sacrifice bunt to move both runners up before Jon Villar grounded out to first base, scoring Pina. Eric Thames laced an Arroyo fastball (85mph four seamer) into right field to score Arcia. Ryan Braun, after just missing a home run in the first inning, shot up one to the seats in left field. Four hits. Four runs. Reds trail, 4-1.
• Eric Thames hit 124 dingers in the KBO over the last three years. He hit one off of Bronson Arroyo tonight. Beer 5, Reds 1.
• That was that. Reds lose, 1-5.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Bronson Arroyo made his first start in Great American Ball Park since September 28, 2013. That, as you may recall, was a long damn time ago. It didn’t go the best, sure, but there’s still something kinda fun about watching Bronson Arroyo back in a Reds jersey. So, welcome back, Bronson. I guess.
• Is this a lot? It seems like a lot.
• Is Darius Rucker Hootie or the Blowfish? Either way, Rucker was in attendance for this one, and Jim Day caught up with him which I’m sure was the highlight of Darius’s night.
• Relevant.
• The Mariners unveiled a Ken Griffey, Jr. statue today. It’s pretty cool and you should look at it.
• The Reds will fire it back up again tomorrow against the Beer Makers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm in the Queen City. Opening Day Starter Scott Feldman will battle with Tommy Milone, a lefty who got rocked in his first start of the year (albeit against the Chicago Cubs).
• Tunes.