Rus Livingood
May 25, 2013 – Cubs @ Reds – 4:10pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (30 – 18)
Home Record (17 – 6)
Cubs Record (18 – 29)
Away Record (8 – 15)
Starters: Wood (4 – 2) vs. Bailey (2 – 3)
The Setting: I am enjoying this game in the friendly confines of Livingood Manor. While loads of my friends are enjoying this game in person, I am home (frowny face). I’m not mad, though. I have great company in my wife and daughter, and this is going to be a nice relaxing weekend.
The Game and Analysis:
•For the second game in a row, the Cubs jumped out to an early lead, only to have the Reds put up a big inning to put the game in their favor. In this game, it was a four run sixth inning that gave the Reds a 5 – 2 win.
•Homer Bailey pitched a good game, though he ran his pitch count up and got himself into trouble a little early in the game. He threw 35 pitches in the third inning, giving up both his runs in that frame. My wife commented that both pitchers were about to throw their last inning each (the sixth inning) as they were both in the 90s on their pitch counts. I told her that Bailey could go 115 or so pitches if needed, and it would depend on whether or not he had a smooth, short sixth inning. He ended up throwing 24 pitches in the inning in most part to an 11 pitch walk to Wellington Castillo, who fouled off pitch after pitch during the at bat. Despite the pitch count, Bailey was throwing fine overall and had a nice outing. His final line was 6.0 innings, 5 hits, 3 walks, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts on 116 pitches.
•For the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo broke out of a huge slump in a big way. The first baseman was 0 – 23 prior to today’s game, and he busted out a 3 – 3 day at the plate with two doubles, an RBi, and scored the Cubs’ other run. The runs came in the third inning as David DeJesus walked with one out and scored on a double by Rizzo. Alfonso Soriano then singled Rizzo in to make the score 2 – 0. Nate Schierholtz followed with a single, but that was all the Cubs would get.
•In the field, Rizzo made a terrific play on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Bailey. The Reds had back to back singles to open their half of the third inning, and Bailey’s job was to move them over. He got the bunt down, but Rizzo was aggressive and fielded it quickly. He turned like he was going to fire the ball to second to go for a double play, but seemed to realize he could get the lead runner, speedy Derrick Robinson, on a force at third. He did just that, and eliminated a major threat by the Reds who were threatening to put some runs on the board. It was just a terrific play by the Cubs’ first baseman.
•The Reds first got on the board against former Red Travis Wood in the fourth inning. Following a Joey Votto strikeout, Brandon Phillips walked and went to third on a single by Jay Bruce. Bruce’s hit looked to be a double, but the important part was Phillips getting to third. He was running on the pitch and made it there easily. Todd Frazier was the next batter, and he scored Phillips on a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 2 – 1 Cubs. Robinson would then draw a walk, but Ryan Hanigan grounded out to end the inning.
•The big inning for the Reds came in the sixth, as they put the four runs on the board to end the scoring for both clubs. They sent nine batters to the plate:
1. Votto walked.
2. Brandon Phillips singled. Votto went to second.
3. Jay Bruce popped up to the second baseman; infield fly rule.
4. Todd Frazier singled to centerfield to score Votto and move Phillips to third. The score was now tied 2 – 2.
5. Robinson laid down a suicide squeeze to score Brandon Phillips and move Frazier to second. The score was now 3 – 2 with two outs in the inning.
6. Hanigan doubled to the gap in left-centerfield to score Frazier to make it 4 – 2.
7. Cesar Izturis pinch hit for Bailey and blooped a single over the shortstop’s glove to score Hanigan and make it 5 – 2. Wood would be taken out of the game at this point.
8. Shin-Soo Choo walked, moving Izturis to second.
9. Zack Cozart popped up to the shortstop to end the inning.
•The Reds had three quality innings from three relievers (Sam LeCure, Jonathan Broxton, and Aroldis Chapman). A hit and a walk given up by Broxton was the only runners allowed, and Chapman picked up his 12th save. Chapman started off with three straight balls, but composed himself and ended up striking out two batters in a perfect inning.
•The big name bats for the Reds weren’t the ones who did the damage in this game. Choo and Votto both went hitless, as Choo continues his downward spiral. Hanigan went 2 – 4, and Frazier knocked in a couple of runs with his hit.
What Worked: Besides the two runs in the third inning, the Reds were not giving much to the Cubs in this game. Bailey, LeCure, Broxton, and Chapman combined for a well-pitched game. The Reds found ways to score in the sixth inning to take control of the game. The suicide squeeze by Robinson was executed perfectly, and it was a great call by the Reds.
What Didn’t Work: Choo is really struggling at the plate right now. The top three in the Reds lineup went 0 – 10.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 31 – 18 and are only 0.5 game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. They remain 1.0 game ahead of the Pirates.
Overall Thoughts: It was great to make up a game on the Cardinals finally. All three teams at the top of the NL Central have been playing terrific baseball, and none of the teams have been able to distance themselves from the other two. The Reds came through with a total team effort in this one, and I know my buddies at the game were thrilled with back to back wins while they were in attendance. I hope they were miserable the whole time, the lousy bums.
Up Next: The Reds take on the Cubbies for the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon.
