Rus Livingood
July 8, 2013 – Reds @ Brewers – 8:10pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (50 – 38)
Away Record (20 – 22)
Brewers Record (35 – 52)
Home Record (20– 25)
Starters: Bailey (5 – 6) vs. Lohse (4 – 6)
The Setting: It’s a Central Standard Time game, so that means an 8pm start. Chances are I might not make it to the final out of the game. I still have my trusty DVR, though. I’ll start the game downstairs and move to the bedroom for as much as I can stay awake for.
The Game and Analysis:
•The Reds finally scored first after an entire series of finding themselves in the hole before they came to the plate. However, the Brewers jumped out to a lead early and the Reds found themselves playing catch up. In the top of the ninth, the Brewers came away with the 4 – 3 win on an amazing catch that ended the game and saved the lead. All the details of the game are below.
•With two outs in the first, the Reds strung together 3 straight singles to score a run. Joey Votto smashed a ball off the first baseman’s glove and was safe at first. Brandon Phillips followed with a single to right, and then Votto scored on Jay Bruce’s liner to center.
•The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Brewers scored a couple of runs in their half of the first. Jean Segura, who seems to get a hit in every at bat versus the Reds, singled and stole second base. The throw got away and went to centerfield, and Segura went to third. He would score on a two run home run by Jonathan Lucroy. Homer Bailey would then allow a walk and a single before finally getting out of the inning. Bailey’s consecutive game no-hit bid ended at one batter, and he didn’t make it through the first inning without giving up a run. The score was 2 – 1 Brewers after one inning.
•In the second, the Brewers notched another run to make it 3 – 1. Bailey walked the pitcher, Kyle Lohse, on six pitches after falling behind in the count 3 – 0. Two batters later, Segura doubled deep down the right field line to easily score Lohse. The ball bounced inside the line and went high on the wall in foul territory. Segura was running hard from the start and had his eyes on third base. Bruce had a strong throw to Phillips, who threw a perfect relay to get the sliding Segura at third. That ended the inning, possibly saving a run or more.
•The Brewers got to Bailey again in the third inning. With two outs, former Red Juan Francisco singled, and Rickie Weeks hit a double to the right-centerfield gap. Phillips’ relay throw to home was not on target like his throw last inning, as the throw was up the line. Francisco scored easily, and Weeks was able to go to third on the throw. The Reds were able to get out of the inning without any further runs scoring, though. After three innings, it was 4 – 1 Brewers.
•With two outs in the fourth inning, Chris Heisey smacked a solo home run to get a run back for the Reds and make the score 4 – 2. Heisey went 2 – 3 on the day and has added some pop since coming off the disabled list after a lengthy hamstring rehabilitation.
•Bailey and Lohse would both leave the game after finding themselves in trouble. Bailey was nowhere near his level from his last game, obviously, as he gave up 10 hits, three walks and four earned runs in 5.2 innings. After a two out pitch and a hit batter in the sixth, Bailey’s day was over. Lohse gave up three hits in the seventh, and though he was aided by a double play, he left with runners on the corners and a 4 – 2 lead with two outs. His final line was 6.2 innings, nine hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs.
•John Axford, the former closer for the Brewers, relieved Lohse in the seventh. Xavier Paul came through with a single to drive in Cesar Izturis and bring the score to 4 – 3. Votto was up next and had runners on first and second, but Axford struck him out to end the inning.
•Both teams would have multiple runners reach base and pose scoring threats against the bullpens, but were not able to get any runs across. In the top of the ninth, closer Francisco Rodriguez retired the first two Reds he faced, and then Derrick Robinson worked an eight pitch walk to put the tying run on and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. That potential go-ahead run was Votto, and he mashed a 2 – 2 fastball to deep centerfield. Did he get it all? Did he get enough to get over the wall? Yes, it was enough to get over the wall, but centerfielder Carlos Gomez got over the wall, too. He robbed Votto of a go-ahead home run to end the game. Votto was pointing in his direction and alerting the umpire that Gomez had never shown the ball to prove he caught it. But alas, Gomez had the ball, and the game was over. It was an exciting end to the ballgame, but I imagine it would have been much more exciting if it didn’t cost my team a potential victory.
What Worked: The Reds bullpen held their opponents scoreless yet again. The Reds clawed back little by little and nearly pulled off the victory. Robinson deserves a lot of praise for drawing the walk to give the Reds the opportunity tie or go ahead. Heisey looked good at the plate again today.
What Didn’t Work: Bailey got knocked around a bit, which put the Reds in the hole. The Reds struggled to manufacture runs in the opportunities they had. Votto needed one more foot on that home run ball to potentially win the game.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 50 – 39 and trail the Cardinals by 4.0 games and the Pirates by 3.5 games in the NL Central.
Overall Thoughts: I couldn’t stay awake for the last two innings. I woke up and watched the last two innings on the DVR and was thrilled when I thought Votto had hit the home run. It wasn’t a great way to start my day.
Up Next: Game two is tomorrow.
