Rus Livingood
April 14, 2013 – Reds @ Pirates – 1:35pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati – My Phone
Reds Record (5 – 6)
Away Record (1 – 4)
Pirates Record (5 – 6)
Home Record (3 – 2)
Starters: Latos (0 – 0) vs. Irwin (0 – 0)
The Setting: My phone for updates, and St. Mark’s—a bar across the street from the Keith Albee Theater—whenever I can sneak away to watch the game. I’m at the Keith Albee for an awards presentation for the fraternity of which I am the advisor. There will be singing/dancing/comedy skits by all the fraternities and sororities leading up to the awards program as this “Greek Sing” event closes out Marshall University’s Greek Week.
The Game and Analysis:
•I’ve been cooking all day! I finished up the catering event around 1:40pm and was able to run home to change into a suit for this awards program/talent show thing. It started at 2pm, and I am in the historic Keith Albee Theater in Huntington. When the movie Rain Man premiered, it was at this very theater. Dustin Hoffman missed the first 45 minutes of the movie as he walked around checking out this vaudevillian wonder. There is a bar directly across the street, and I am betting it has the game on. . .or it will if I go over and ask to watch it.
•It is already 5 – 0 Reds when I check my phone! There we go! The box score says Brandon Phillips knocked in three runs with a couple of singles, and Shin-Soo Choo double in another run. Did I mention that Phillips was always my pick to bat cleanup? No, no I didn’t. I am happy to be wrong about that one, as he has had a good start.
•There is an intermission, and I hit the bar to watch a little of the game. Still 5 – 0, and I think I saw more commercials than actual game time. Latos seemed to be cruising, though, which is nice to see in April. I learned last year that he was a slow starter. He was throwing a lot of strikes in the brief time I got to see him.
•Back to the Keith Albee and the next time I check my phone, it is 5 – 4. What? How did this happen? I think about asking Siri if she can call the play-by-play, but I just look at the box score again. It seems Latos had the wheels fall off and gave up three of the runs. Logan Ondrusek came in to throw two pitches, one of which was an RBI single. Manny Parra gave up another hit before getting the Reds out of the seventh inning. I really need to be watching this game. This wouldn’t be happening if I was watching. I can control things. I feel that way sometimes.
•The Reds got one of the runs back in the 8th inning on a Jack Hannahan single. Not to be outdone, the Pirates decide they are no longer going to make outs and explode for another six runs to go up 10 – 6. I contemplate throwing my phone on stage and hoping it gets stomped on.
•Joey Votto ended his home run drought with a solo shot in the ninth inning. Glad to see Joey get one, but I wish I could have seen it. The game ends at 10 – 7.
What Worked: The Reds at least put up some offense in this game and jumped out to an early lead. Latos was pitching great until the seventh inning, and that is when the game started getting out of control.
What Didn’t Work: The bullpen got lit up. The Reds’ bullpen is a strong point, but not lately. Seven runs in 1 1/3 innings is very bad, and there is no explanation for it as it was not just one guy getting hammered.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 5 – 7 on the season. They trail the Cardinals by two games and the Pirates by one game in the NL Central.
Overall Thoughts: Five losses in a row! You’ll just have to trust me when I tell you that this nearly cripples me. I can’t stand to lose at anything, and I have followed the Reds for so long that I feel like a part of the team. I feel like I need to hit the showers after the game and sulk off the losses. Five in a row is the kind of loss streak that makes me a moody, brooding dolt. What’s it to you?
Up Next: Thankfully, the Reds return to Cincinnati and get away from this road trip. They take on the Phillies tomorrow evening.
