Rus Livingood
July 26, 2013 – Reds @ Dodgers – 10:10pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (59 – 44)
Away Record (27 – 27)
Dodgers Record (53 – 48)
Home Record (27 – 24)
Starters: Bailey (5 – 9) vs. Kershaw (9 – 6)
The Setting: I’m watching this on a bit of a delay. I got home around the eighth inning or so, but the DVR is my friend. I love being able to set things to record from the DirecTV app on my phone.
The Game and Analysis:
•This was a well-pitched game by both Homer Bailey and Clayton Kershaw, but Kershaw and the Dodgers were just a little bit better. With runs at a premium, the Dodger got a two run homer in the sixth and were able to hold on to the 2 – 1 win to even the series at a game apiece.
•In the first inning, Joey Votto drove a double to the opposite field gap for his 38th consecutive game reaching base. This guy gets on base better than anyone else in the league over the past few years. Brandon Phillips grounded a ball up the middle to follow Votto, but Mark Ellis made a good play to nail Phillips at first and probably save a run had that ball gotten past him.
•In the bottom of the first, Carl Crawford led off with a single up the middle against Bailey. Yasiel Puig hit into a force out, and then was thrown out trying to steal second. The force out would most likely have been a double play had Cozart not bobbled the ball. The caught stealing nullified that little mistake, though. Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to first to end the inning.
•The Reds went down in order in the second. Jay Bruce struck out; Todd Frazier lined out to leftfield on a ball that looked much better off the bat; and Zack Cozart grounded out to third base. Kershaw was at 34 pitches after two innings.
•In the Dodgers’ half of the second, Hanley Ramirez struck out looking on a ball that scraped the very bottom of the strike zone. Ramirez and manager Don Mattingly disagreed with the call, and Mattingly actually got a warning from the ump about arguing. Hopefully Ramirez will get tossed from the game, and hopefully Mattingly will cut those sideburns. Other than a four-pitch walk to A.J. Ellis, Bailey cruised through the second inning as well. He sat at 31 pitches after his first two innings.
•Corky Miller and his boss mustache led off the third inning with a single to center. Bailey tried the old “butcher boy” play, where you fake a bunt and then try to chop the ball through the drawn-in infield. It resulted in a 4-6-3 double play. Kershaw then struck out Choo to end the inning.
•The Dodgers got something going in the bottom of the third. Mark Ellis singled to open the inning, and Kershaw bunted him over (even though Bailey might have had a shot at Ellis at second had he not hesitated). Crawford then laced a ball down the line that Votto dove to stop. In a foot race to first base, it appeared to be a tie and Crawford was safe. That saved a run for the Reds no matter what. With runners on first and third and one out, Bailey struck out Puig and got Gonzalez to line out to rightfield to end the inning. Gonzalez hit that ball hard, but it was right at Bruce. It was scoreless after three innings.
•Chris Heisey sent a liner to the gap in right-center, and it hit off the tip of Andre Ethier’s glove for a leadoff double in the fourth. Votto struck out on a foul tip; Phillips grounded out to short to move Heisey to third; and Kershaw struck out Bruce looking with a huge curveball. The heart of the order was not able to capitalize on the leadoff double.
•Ramirez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle and then promptly stole second. Miller made a terrific throw from his knees, but Ramirez got in there. Ethier lined out to rightfield, and Ramirez tagged up on the play. Bruce threw a missile to third, but the ball was not fielded cleanly by Frazier on the bounce and Ramirez slid in safely. It would have been close without the bobble. With a runner on third and only one out, Bailey would have to knuckle down. He hit A.J. Ellis to put runners on the corners, but then the Reds got a miracle double play to end the inning. Uribe flew out to Bruce, who threw home to try and get a tagging Ramirez. The throw was up the third base line on the fly, and Miller missed tagging Ramirez. To avoid the tag, though, Ramirez missed the plate. Miller then dove at Ramirez, who came back to home to try and score, and after Ramirez dodged him a second time, Miller was able to tag him on the third attempt to touch home. That amazing play kept it at a scoreless game after four innings.
•Frazier hit a rocket right at the third baseman to start the fifth inning with an out. Back-to-back groundouts by Cozart and Miller to Ramirez at shortstop made for a 1-2-3 inning.
•The Dodgers would get a single from Crawford in their half of the fifth, but nothing else as the game remained scoreless through five innings.
•The Reds went down in order in the top of the sixth, with Kershaw picking up two more strikeouts. Choo gave a ball a ride to the warning track in left, but Crawford made the catch. This game was looking like it would come down to which team would be able to manufacture a run. Both pitchers were dealing.
•The bottom of the sixth would see a run finally on the board. Gonzalez led off with a single to right, and then Ramirez lined a curveball just over the left field wall for a 2 – 0 Dodgers lead. Bailey would retire the next three batters in order, with a scare from A.J. Ellis on a fly ball to the warning track being the only thing close to a hit. Bailey was at 98 pitches after six innings.
•After Votto lined out to start the seventh inning, Phillips went the other way with a ball past the first baseman and ended up with a double. Bruce would then put the Reds on the board with a single to center to score Phillips. Bruce would go to second on a wild pitch, but Frazier would strike out and Cozart grounded out to end the inning. It was 2 – 1 Dodgers. Kershaw was at 102 pitches after seven innings.
•Bailey sat the Dodgers down in order in the bottom of the seventh, including striking Kershaw. Bailey was at 109 pitches, and it was looking like the bullpens would need to come in for these pitchers soon. Obviously Kershaw would remain in the game as he hit for himself, but how much longer would Bailey stay in the game?
•I would get my answer relatively quickly. Devin Mesoraco pinch-hit for Miller to start the eighth and grounded out to third. Derrick Robinson would hit for Bailey and doubled off the third base bag to hopefully get something going. Choo chopped a ball back to Kershaw, who looked back Robinson and then got the out at first. Don Mattingly would come out and check on Kershaw, but left him in the game. He would get Heisey to pop up to second to end the threat and keep the score 2 – 1. Kershaw threw 118 pitches through eight innings, and you have to believe that was all for him. Terrific outing by Kershaw, and Bailey nearly matched him in his efforts.
•J.J. Hoover took the mound for the Reds in the eighth inning and mowed down the Dodgers. He struck out Puig and then got Gonzalez and Ramirez to pop up for a 1-2-3 inning. It would be up to the Reds’ heart of the order to come up with a run or two in the top of the ninth.
•Kenley Jansen came in to close the game for the Dodgers. Votto lined out to left for the first out, and then Jansen struck out Phillips and Bruce to end the game.
What Worked: There was terrific pitching from both clubs, and stellar defense to aid those pitchers. Miller’s play at home to keep the game scoreless in the fourth merits mention, and Bailey’s pitching definitely deserves praise.
What Didn’t Work: Kershaw prevented the Reds from capitalizing on their chances. The Reds were 1 – 9 with runners in scoring position.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 59 – 45 and trail the Cardinals by 5.0 games and the Pirates by 2.5 games in the NL Central.
Overall Thoughts: That was a tough loss for the Reds, but it was against the major league leader in ERA in Kershaw. Bailey put up a great effort in the loss, but a loss it was for the Reds.
Up Next: Game three of this four game set is tomorrow night.
