Rus Livingood
July 13, 2013 – Reds @ Braves – 4:05pm – Fox Sports Ohio
Reds Record (52 – 41)
Away Record (22 – 25)
Braves Record (53 – 40)
Home Record (30– 14)
Starters: Bailey (5 – 7) vs. Minor (8 – 4)
The Setting: I’m going to start this game in Gilbert (where I grew up) and watch the rest on DVR when I get back home. I’ll be spending most of the evening catching up with my friend, sitting around a fire and talking about how good we used to be at stuff.
The Game and Analysis:
•The Reds looked like they were going to bust the game open early, but only built a modest lead. The Braves battled back for the lead and never looked back as their patchwork outfield helped Mike Minor and the Braves pick up a 5 – 2 victory.
•The Reds had the bases loaded with one out, but came away with no runs to show for it. After Chris Heisey grounded out to start the game, Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto singled to put runners on the corners. A Brandon Phillips walk loaded the bases for Jay Bruce, but he struck out swinging. Todd Frazier lined out to end the inning.
•Zack Cozart led off the second inning with a triple, and scored on a Corky Miller groundout in the next at bat. After Homer Bailey struck out, Heisey hit a double (reviewed and confirmed as such) and then scored on a single by Choo. It was 2 – 0 Reds after the second inning.
•Brian McCann got the Braves on the board with his second homer in as many days, a solo shot in the fourth inning. It was an eight pitch at bat that saw McCann foul off four pitches before sending a fastball into the rightfield stands.
•The fifth inning would be a rocky one for Homer Bailey. He gave up four consecutive hits to start the inning: a single by Reed Johnson; a double by Joey Terdoslavich; a two run double by starting pitcher Mike Minor; and a bunt single by Jose Constanza. Bailey would get out of the inning allowing only the two runs, as he retired three of the next four batters, with an intentional walk to McCann mixed in. The Braves now led 3 – 2.
•The Braves tacked on another run against Bailey in the sixth. Chris Johnson singled, and Terdoslavich singled with one out. Minor bunted both of them into scoring position, and Constanza came through with a two out single that plated Chris Johnson. The Braves almost got another run, as Andrelton Simmons followed with a screaming liner back up the middle, but Bailey got his glove up just in time. The ball hit off his glove, but Bailey caught the ball off the ricochet. This would be the last of Bailey in this game. His final line: 6.0 innings, 10 hits, 1 walk (intentional), 4 runs and seven strikeouts on 105 pitches.
•Manny Parra replaced Bailey to start the seventh and struck out the only two batters he faced, Freddie Freeman and McCann. Alfredo Simon was brought in to face Dan Uggla, and Uggla promptly blasted a solo homer to left to make the score 5 – 2.
•Craig Kimbrel came in for the save opportunity in the ninth. He struck out Todd Frazier looking, Zack Cozart looking, and pinch hitter Xavier Paul swinging to end the game.
•The entire starting outfield for the Braves was out injured, having been hurt in the first two games of the series. Their replacements, Constanza, Reed Johnson, and Terdoslavich, went a combined 7 – 11. Constanza was 3 – 4 with an RBI; Reed Johnson was 2 – 3 with a run scored; and Terdoslavich was 2 -4 with a double and a run scored. Going into the game, I was expecting the Braves to struggle offensively due to the loss of several players in their lineup. That clearly did not happen.
•Minor pitched well after struggling through the first two innings. He threw 28 pitches in the first as six batters came to the plate, though he came away unscathed. In the second, he faced another six batters, throwing 23 pitches and giving up the two runs. Over the next five innings, he would give up only one single while and no walks while throwing the same number of pitches he did in the first two frames.
•Choo went 2 -4 with the RBI single, and now has an 11 game hitting streak. This was his fourth straight game of multiple hits, and his average is now back up to .284. That is 20 points higher than before this current hitting streak.
What Worked: For the Braves, their makeshift outfield came through in a big way and helped Minor cruise to a win. For the Reds, they were getting on base early and often, pressing Minor in those first two innings.
What Didn’t Work: The Reds offense was shut down after the second inning. Minor dominated them, and the Braves bullpen closed the door. The Reds blew a chance to have a big inning in the first.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 52 – 42 and trail the Cardinals and Pirates by 5.0 games in the NL Central.
Overall Thoughts: The Reds look like a team that needs some rest and regrouping at the All-Star Break. The bats are flat more often than not, and I think a break will do some good. Choo continues to stay hot, but some of the other guys are struggling. The club is five games back from both the Cardinals and Pirates, and every passing day makes it a harder obstacle to overcome.
Up Next: The final game of the series and the final game before the All-Star Break is tomorrow afternoon.
