Vladimir Gutierrez silences the Brewers to take game one of the road trip

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Vladimir Gutierrez - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

You never quite know what you are going to get when you mix a rookie pitcher with facing a team for the second time. So far this season, Vladimir Gutierrez has done nothing but impress and Monday night he continued to add on to that. The young guys stepping up make this team fun to watch.

Honorable Mention: Heath Hembree for striking out the side in the 7th, Amir Garrett for getting two strikeouts and a groundout in the eighth, and some guy named Art Warren who got a strikeout and finished the ninth inning silently. Joey Votto for knocking in three runs with another dinger, double, and two runs scored, Jonathan India for going 3 for 4 with a double, RBI, and a stolen base, Tyler Stephenson for walking twice, hitting a double, and scoring a run, and Jesse Winker for knocking in a run with a single and also taking a walk. Aristides Aquino also had to be added to this list late when he hit a pitch a mile. He also walked.

Key Plays

• To start off the night Jonathan India ripped a single and Jesse Winker walked. Castellanos grounded into a fielder’s choice which nixed India, but Tyler Stephenson walked to load the bases. Votto then grounded out to first, allowing Winker to score, and Eugenio Suarez struck out to end the threat. Reds lead, 1-0.
• Daniel Vogelbach evened the score in the bottom of the first with a massive home run. He’s big dude and swings a fat stick. Tie game.
• In the top of the second inning, the Reds kept things rolling. Aristides Aquino led off with a walk, Kyle Famer singled, and Vladimir Gutierrez tried to sacrifice the runners over but the Brewers were able to get Aquino at third on the force. Jonathan India then jumped all over a one strike pitch and drove it into the left center field gap and scored Farmer. Winker singled to score Gutierrez and Castellanos grounded into another fielder’s choice but beat out the throw to first to avoid the double play. India scored and Castellanos subsequently stole second base, but Tyler Stephenson grounded out with runners at second and third. Reds lead, 4-1.
• The Brewers, again, responded with some more offense. Jace Peterson singled, Jackie Bradley hit a ground rule double, and Eric Lauer brought in a run with a sacrifice fly. Luis Urias walked which brought a mound visit to calm Gutierrez nerves and he responded by getting Vogelbach to fly out to end the inning. Reds lead, 4-2.
• This is just a key fact to show some appreciate to Vladimir Gutierrez. He pitched very well after calming things after the second inning. He was able to finish the sixth inning, well above 100 pitches, while getting to strikeout to get him out of the inning. The dude battled and it was pretty awesome.
• HE STILL FUCKING BANGS! Reds lead, 6-2.
• With an out in the top of the ninth inning, the Reds went out and got some insurance. Tyler Stephenson led off with a double, Joey Votto then banged a liner into the right center field gap. Tyler Stephenson was held at third and Votto advanced to second on a throw through to the plate. The scoring still hasn’t given Votto a double but there was no error on the play so I don’t know what they’re waiting for. Suarez then singled in both Votto and Stephenson with a bloop into center field and then you could just feel the tension when Aristides Aquino came to the plate. With one swing of the bat he launched a pitch down I-94 towards Tomah. Reds lead, 10-2!
• The bullpen was just awesome the final three innings. They didn’t need the insurance runs but those were also very nice. REDS WIN, 10-2!

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• The big talk that came with this game was how Gutierrez would respond to facing the Brewers a second time. While he had a few struggles there was one noticeable strategy. The second time through the order Gutierrez leaned heavily on his secondary pitches, avoiding his fastball for the most part, keeping the Brewers off balance.
• Bingo

• Since coming back from the IL, Joey Votto has hit three homeruns, knocked in twelve runs, and walked four times in seven games. BANGS.

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