Rus Livingood
April 19, 2013 – Marlins @ Reds – 7:10pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (9 – 7)
Home Record (8 – 2)
Marlins Record (3 – 13)
Away Record (1 – 6)
Starters: Slowey (0 – 2) vs. Latos (0 – 0)
Storylines:
The Reds blasted another 11 runs against the marlins yesterday, and Tony Cingrani looked good in his Major League debut. Mat Latos is going for his first win of the year after a few quality starts that lead to no decisions. He faces Kevin Slowey, who has pitched well and gotten no run support this year. This could be a decent pitching matchup unless the New Red Machine drops another double digit onslaught on the Marlins.
The Setting: My humble abode. My mother-in-law is playing with my daughter, and they need to watch Caillou (ugh!). I retire upstairs to watch it in my bed. I need to get a 65” television for my bedroom, too. That way, if Caillou trumps my Reds game, I won’t feel as gypped.
The Game and Analysis:
•These two pitchers did not disappoint from what I thought might be a good matchup. Mat Latos pitched 7.0 innings and struck out 10, giving up one run. Kevin Slowey pitched 6.0 innings and gave up one run, lowering his ERA to 1.90 on the year. The run the Marlins picked up in the third inning was the first run scored by the team while Slowey has been on the mound this year. They have scored one run in his 23.2 innings of pitching. That is the epitome of no run support.
•Shin-Soo Choo got on base again, continuing his streak for every game he has played as a Red. He scored the Reds’ only run on a sac fly by Joey Votto.
•Votto continues to struggle, and is no batting .264 on the year. He is too good of a hitter for me to start worrying, but he is not the doubles machine he was prior to his injury. His clutch numbers are also down. If he gets back to form, these Reds will be nuclear.
•Jay Bruce reminded everyone not run on his arm as he cut down a Marlin at the plate. Bruce is still hovering around that .300 average, but has not hit a home run yet this year. The same thing that I said about Votto applies to Bruce. If he gets his power game going, this lineup is going to be insane.
•Have I mentioned how much I hate Caillou? He is a whiny little brat, yet he absolutely mesmerizes my daughter. The house could be falling down around her, and she would be glued to the television while he is on.
•Aroldis Chapman showed his human side in this game, as he shows what can happen when you throw hard fastballs; someone can put the sweet spot of the bat on one and hit it 800 feet. Justin Ruggiano didn’t quite hit that mark, but it went far enough to give the Marlins a 2 – 1 lead and eventual win. Chapman was throwing well, he just left it up in the zone and Ruggiano did what you are supposed to do when that happens.
•My crazy schedule has kept me from cooking out and watching a game and this is probably the furthest into a season in my adult life that I have not done so. Tomorrow will be no better, as I will be travelling (a relatively short distance) during the middle of the game, and I will probably be rushed to get everything packed and ready rather than enjoying some bratwurst from the grill.
What Worked: The pitching and defense from the Reds continued to be top-notch. I also tip my cap to Slowey and the rest of the Marlins for holding the Reds to a single run. Ruggiano hit his second homer in as many games, and this one off the great Aroldis Chapman was a dagger to the heart.
What Didn’t Work: As has been the case at times this year, the Reds’ bats decided not to show up. They have been up and down, but the ups have been really, really up there. Votto and Bruce have got to get going.
Overall Thoughts: Losing to the hapless Marlins is tough. Losing to the hapless Marlins while getting booted out of your own living room is worse. That wasn’t how I wanted to start my weekend.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 9 – 8 and are ½ game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central.
Up Next: The Reds host the Marlins for game three of the four game set. I will start the game at my house in Huntington, and most likely finish it in Grayson, KY as I travel for a black tie event.
