Rus Livingood
August 4, 2013 – Cardinals @ Reds – 1:10pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (61 – 50)
Home Record (33 – 18)
Cardinals Record (64 – 45)
Away Record (32 – 28)
Starters: Lynn (12 –5 ) vs. Leake (10 – 4)
The Setting: Well, it’s the rubber game of the series, and hopefully the Reds will be able to walk away on a high note and take the series, making up some ground on the Cards. I am watching at home with the family on a lazy Sunday.
The Game and Analysis:
•The other day, I was disgusted by the game as the Reds lost 13 – 3. This was much worse. I had to turn the game off. Yes, I like to pride myself in being a true fan and always supporting my team whether they win or lose. No, I won’t subject myself to watch this entire game while the two teams are playing like this. Call me what you will, but I tuned out when it was 11 – 2, and it got even worse. The Cardinals hammered the Reds 15 – 2, and I have all the miserable details below.
•The Cardinals jumped out to a first inning lead for the third time in as many games, scoring four runs in the first inning. After the first two batters were retired, Allen Craig singled to right field. Matt Holliday then doubled him home for the first run. David Freese then doubled home Holliday for the second run, and burly Matt Adams hit a two-run homer to right field for a 4 – 0 Cardinals lead. We were already at threat level orange in the “Will Rus Lose It?” category.
•The Reds got two runs back in the bottom of the second on a two-run upper deck shot by Zack Cozart. When Cozart launched the homer, I believed that the Reds were going to put that first inning behind them and just dominate the Cardinals for the rest of the game. Hey, I’m a big-time Reds fan; that’s what I do. In reality, that would be the only scores for the Reds on the day.
•The score would remain 4 – 2 through the first five innings. I was still optimistic. In the top of the sixth, Holliday led off with a single; Freese singled up the middle; and Adams singled past Votto at first to drive in Holliday for a 5 – 2 lead. That would be it for Leake, and he was responsible for two runners in addition to the five runs he had given up. Logan Ondrusek came on in relief, and immediately gave up an RBI single to Tony Cruz to make it 6 – 2. Daniel Descalso then doubled home Adams (7 – 2), and Lance Lynn reached on an error by Todd Frazier, the Reds’ second error of the inning. The bases were loaded with no outs and three runs already in. matt Carpenter drove in two more with a double to make it 9 – 2 and chase Ondrusek from the game without him recording an out. Alfredo Simon came in and retired the next three batters to mercifully end the inning and allow no further damage. Threat level red.
•How did the Reds answer? Three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth. Threat level redder.
•Ah, but what about the next half-inning? Freese led off with a solo homer to make it 10 – 2 Cardinals. Threat level midni. . .I mean , worse than redder. . .whatever that is.
•In the eighth, there was a walk, a single, and an RBI single, and I had had enough at 11 – 2.
•The Cardinals would go on to score four more times, all in the ninth inning. It was not a good day for the Reds bullpen.
•Lynn pitched 8.0 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out 11 Reds and really only gave up the one mistake to Cozart.
What Worked: Cozart hit an upper deck homer and Simon pitched out of a jam in the sixth. Nothing else.
What Didn’t Work: The pitchers got lit up, and the Reds looked outmanned and outgunned.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 61 – 51 and trail the Pirates by 6.5 games and the Cardinals by 5.0 games in the NL Central.
Overall Thoughts: I want to puke.
Up Next: The Reds have a day off before welcoming the Athletics for a short, two game series starting Tuesday.
