Rus Livingood
May 22, 2013 – Reds @ Mets – 1:10pm – Reds on the Radio – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (28 – 18)
Away Record (12 – 12)
Mets Record (17 – 26)
Home Record (9 – 14)
Starters: Latos (4 – 0) vs. Harvey (5 – 0)
The Setting: It’s a day game during the week, so I will be listening to the radio at work when not taking care of our customers. Depending on when the game ends, I might get to watch the end at home, as I’ll be leaving work at 4pm. The family and I are trying to get on the road soon after work is over, though, as we are heading to Lexington, KY for the night as I have a training class there tomorrow. We’ll see.
The Game and Analysis:
•This matchup was shaping up to be a pitchers’ duel, low-scoring affair on paper. Mat Latos (4 – 0, 2.91 ERA) was facing Matt Harvey (5 – 0, 1.55 ERA), both of whom have been dominant early this season. Both of been victims of several no decisions, and both have had stretches where giving up runs were rare. This game did not exactly pan out that way, and came down to a crucial ninth inning as the Reds came away with a 7 – 4 win.
•Latos got into trouble early, giving up back to back doubles to lead off the bottom of the first inning to give the Mets a 1 – 0 lead. He would fare much better until the fifth inning, when a leadoff double turned into a run after a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. That would tie the game at 2 – 2. Latos would not make it through the seventh inning, as Rick Ankiel hit his third extra base hit off Latos on the day, tripling in two runs to tie the game at 4 – 4. Latos would finish with a line 0 6.2 innings pitched, 8 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 4 runs.
•Harvey also faced his share of problems. He gave up a two run homer to Joey Votto in the third inning to make the score 2 – 1 Reds, and would also give up to runs in the seventh before being taken out of the game. Harvey was in trouble in the fifth inning, as he loaded the bases with Jay Bruce coming to bat, though he was able to escape the inning unscathed. Harvey’s line was 6.1 innings, 9 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 4 runs.
•Zach Cozart had a great day at the plate, going 4 – 5 with two doubles and two singles. He was a perfect 4 – 4 against Harvey.
•Joey Votto went 2 – 3 with the two RBIs from the home run, and was walked twice intentionally. He scored three runs on the day and continues to be the hottest hitter in the league. His average is now tops in the National League at .358; his on base percentage is up to .484; and his slugging has climbed to .545. Votto was scheduled to receive a day off during this road trip, but you don’t want to take a guy out while he is on fire. His hitting streak now sits at 11 games, and his slash line for the month is an absurd .452/.551/.671.
•Brandon Phillips picked up two more RBIs to give him 40 on the year, which is the best in the NL. Phillips singled in Cozart in the seventh inning to put the Reds ahead 3 – 2. In the ninth, he drove in Shin-Soo Choo with a double, which was maybe one of the most interesting doubles I have seen. Choo led off the top of the ninth with a double, and went to third on a groundout by Cozart. Votto was intentionally walked for the second time, and then Phillips came to bat with runners on the corners and one out. He checked his swing, and the ball bounced slowly down the first baseline; it was literally right down the line, hitting the chalk. First baseman Ike Davis went to field the ball, but pulled his glove back at the last second. He would not have gotten Choo at home, nor would he have been able to get a double play. Instead, he let the ball go and hoped it would be foul. It ended up going for a run-scoring double and put two runners in scoring position with one out.
•Todd Frazier pinch-hit in the ninth inning, picking up two RBIs on a single to set the final score at 7 – 4. He came to bat following an intentional walk to Jay Bruce, loading the bases after Phillips’ double. Frazier was given the day off at third base, as Dusty Baker wanted to stack his lineup with lefties against Harvey, and Jack Hanahan played for Frazier.
•Aroldis Chapman got the save for the Reds in the ninth inning, which I actually got to watch. I listened to the game on the way home, hearing the double by Phillips, the walk to Bruce, and then the single by Frazier. I made it home as Chapman was ready to throw his first pitch. His velocity was okay, but he was throwing more balls than when he is on point. However, he picked up two strikeouts and gave up a harmless single in picking up save number 10 on the year.
What Worked: The Reds got to Harvey and took him out of the game. Cozart had an excellent day at the plate, and the middle of the Reds lineup came up with some big RBIs like they are expected to do. The bullpen combined for 2.1 innings of shutout baseball, giving up one walk and one hit only. For the Mets, Daniel Murphy and Rick Ankiel did lots of damage at the top of the lineup. Ankiel was driving the ball all game.
What Didn’t Work: The game was not the great pitching matchup I expected, but neither pitcher had that bad of a game. They have each set expectations so high that giving up four runs and not making it through seven innings is a rarity and surprises us. Hanahan playing for Frazier didn’t pan out, and then Frazier got the big cushion runs in the ninth in his only at bat. Poor Davis. . .he is in a major slump that could see him sent down to the minors, and then this play happened. The Reds would have scored on the play regardless, and still could have won the game, but all eyes are on Davis right now and the timing could not have been worse for his bad decision.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 29 – 18 and trail the Cardinals by 1.5 games and remain 0.5 game ahead of the Pirates.
Overall Thoughts: The Mets are struggling right now, but a sweep is a sweep and that is what the Reds got. The Reds went 7 – 2 on the road trip and are now 13 – 12 on the road this year. The Reds keep winning, but so do the Cardinals and Pirates. Those three teams from the NL Central have three of the best records in baseball. No team is able to pull away from the others.
Up Next: the Reds have a day off and before welcoming the Cubs for a weekend series starting Friday evening.
