Rus Livingood
April 25, 2013 – Reds @ Nationals – 7:05pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (13 – 9)
Away Record (1 – 5)
Nationals Record (10 – 11)
Away Record (6 – 6)
Starters: Arroyo (2 – 1) vs. Gonzalez (1 – 1)
Storylines: The Reds had a horrible first road trip, and it would be nice to start this one off with a big win. Which Reds offense will show up? At times they look like a modern day Murderer’s Row, and at others they look like the modern day Marlins. The pitching has been the saving grace of this team so far this year, and we could have some good pitchers’ duels in this series.
The Setting: Home sweet home.
The Game and Analysis:
•Well, my question above was answered pretty definitively. The Reds got one hit (insert Harry Doyle quote) against Gio Gonzalez. As I was watching Gonzalez assassinate our lineup, I was begging out loud for Bud Selig to test him for PEDs in the middle of the game. One hit! One. He just dominated the Reds tonight. His final line was 8.0 innings, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 2 BBs, 7 Ks, and 112 pitches thrown.
•At least our one hit was a Joey Votto home run. Sadly, it only barely got out of the park, so we could have been dangerously close to having a no-hitter thrown against us. It did go out, though, and it was an opposite field homer like we have come to expect from Votto. I had next to nothing to celebrate in this game, so I am going to act like this home run was just what he needed to get his power game back on track. I don’t expect Votto to hit 40+ homers per year, but the dude has been a doubles machine that can hit for .330 or above. He was also one of the most clutch performers late in the game or with the game on the line. We need that right now.
•Shin-Soo Choo was walked in the ninth inning, which kept his streak of reaching base in every game as a Red alive. We are now at 22 games, as he sat out one game this year.
•Bronson Arroyo looked like he tends to look once or twice per year. . .like a batting practice pitcher. Don’t take that the wrong way, as his stats since joining the Reds put him up against the best pitchers in the rest of the league over that span, mostly because of his steady consistency. However, his stuff relies on movement and location, and to a lesser extent, his arm angle variations. But if a team locks in on him, he is throwing the same speed as you see in batting practice, and teams have teed off on him at times. Tonight was one of those times. The good news is this does not often happen several times a year, and maybe—just maybe—this will be the only time in 2013.
•Bryce Harper went deep as part of a 2 – 3 night and getting on base three times. His slash numbers are .364/.443/.740, which is incredible for a second year player. He has been raking this year.
•The Reds committed two errors this game, one of which was a play I have seen Votto make in his sleep. He practices it daily and it has become as routine for him as it gets. He works hard on his defense, but it seemed nothing could go right for the Reds tonight.
•J. J. Hoover looked good tonight and brought his ERA down to 3.86. He has given up runs in only three of his contests this year, but all three were losses with three of the five total runs given up being via homers.
What Worked: Gio Gonzalez was absolutely dominant as I said before. Arroyo settled down and gave the Reds six inning when it looked like we might have to go to the bullpen in the third inning. And of course, it was good to see Votto hit a homer.
What Didn’t Work: The Reds had one hit and three base runners the entire game. Their defense was shaky and their pitching was torched early and then late in the game. This was just a horrible game overall for the Reds.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 13 – 10 and trail the Cardinals (1 game) and the Pirates (1/2 game) in the NL Central.
Overall Thoughts: There are so many. None good.
Up Next: The Reds take on the Nationals again tomorrow evening.
