Rus Livingood
June 15, 2013 – Brewers @ Reds – 4:10pm – Fox Sports Cincinnati
Reds Record (41 – 27)
Home Record (23 – 11)
Brewers Record (27 – 39)
Away Record (11– 19)
Starters: Gallardo (5 – 6) vs. Bailey (4 – 4)
The Setting: I have been out and about running errands all over the tri-state area since early, early this morning. I got a text from my wife that my daughter (roughly 21 months old) had invited me to an early Father’s Day picnic at her favorite spot of the park that is right by our house. We had sandwiches, strawberries, Gerber yogurt (for her), and granola bars (for her). We played with a ball and some “ubbles” (bubbles, for those of us who can enunciate every syllable of every word), and had a great time! It was a great surprise for me, and we are all going to watch the game together at the house.
The Game and Analysis:
•After struggling for the last seven innings of their game two days ago, the Reds were struggling with the bats again in this game. Yovani Gallardo and the Brewers shut them out for a 6 – 0 win. The Reds failed to capitalize on their opportunities, and the series is now tied up at one game apiece.
•Homer Bailey started for the Reds, and a couple of wild pitches early in the game set the tone for how the day would play out. In the second inning, Jonathan Lucroy singled and went to second on a wild pitch. A single by Logan Schafer put Lucroy on third, and then Schafer stole second as Bailey was throwing a second wild pitch, which allowed Lucroy to score and Schafer to go all the way to third. Schafer then scored on a sacrifice fly by Juan Francisco. Francisco made the score 4 – 0 in the fifth inning, when he lined a pitch from Bailey off the bottom of the foul pole in left field for a two run homer. Schafer had doubled to lead off the inning. In the sixth, the Brewers scored the last runs of the game when Schafer doubled again, scoring Aramis Ramirez and Lucroy. Bailey would throw 7.0 innings, due to his pitch count being low enough to stay in the game, but also due to the fact the bullpen needed the rest.
•The Reds went 0 – 4 with runners in scoring position, and failed to get a runner past second base. Yovani Gallardo pitched 6.0 innings and gave up only three hits and two walks while striking out five. The Reds’ bats were nearly invisible, even though they showed a little life against reliever Tom Gorzelanny, as they got three hits off him in his inning plus of work.
•A bright spot—if you can call it that—for the Reds was Jay Bruce. Bruce went 2 – 3 on the day and had the Reds’ only extra base hit. His single off Tom Gorzelanny continued his dominance of the pitcher. Bruce has hit the lefthander very well in his career, even though lefty relivers are often brought in to face Bruce late in the games.
•Ryan Hanigan also collected two hits for the Reds in the loss. While not tearing the cover off the ball, Hanigan is batting much better since coming off the disabled list (.246) than before he went on (.079). The Reds have settled into a three games on/two games off schedule for Hanigan. His defense and game-calling are terrific, but he has been very streaky of late and hasn’t been over the “Mendoza Line” all season.
•After going 0 – 3 on the day, Joey Votto finds himself mired in a 1 – 14 slump. His batting average is back down to .315 on the year, and is batting .207 (11 – 77) since hitting his season high of .361 on May 24.
•The Reds got two scoreless, hitless innings out of J.J. Hoover and Manny Parra. Parra walked two batters, but the relievers pretty much shut the door on the Brewers, though it was too little too late.
What Worked: The bullpen was pretty efficient, and the defense was solid.
What Didn’t Work: Bailey got himself in some jams and the wild pitches did not help. The hitting was virtually non-existent, with some singles sprinkled here and there.
Where They Stand: The Reds are 41 – 28 and trail the Cardinals by 3.5 games in the NL Central. They are 0.5 game ahead of the Pirates.
Overall Thoughts: I need a nap.
Up Next: The Reds face the Brewers in the rubber game tomorrow.
