Game 14: Marlins 12, Reds 6
By
Amanda
Posted at 10:22 am
The Reds paid for their derisive attitude toward the no-name Marlins with a massive 12-6 loss on Tuesday night.
Eric Milton's Evil Twin was back in full effect on Tuesday. He gave up a home run to his first batter, Hanley Ramirez. He gave Ramirez another home run in the second. He gave a home run to a man by the name of Dan Uggla. All-in-all, Milton would go four and a third innings, allowing nine runs (all earned) on eight hits and three walks.
Matt Belisle took over in the fifth and failed to keep Milton's runners from scoring. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed a run of his own on three hits. Mike Burns gave up another two runs (earned) on six hits in his two innings of work. Rick White was the only Reds pitcher not to allow a run. He allowed just a hit in his two innings.
The three Reds who hit home runs tonight were the ones with the RBI. Rich Aurilia had one RBI, David Ross had two, and Edwin Encarnación had three.
The rest of the game sucked too much to go into any more detail. The loss brings the Reds' record to 8-6. Tomorrow Aaron Harang faces off against Dontrelle Willis for the Marlins at 12:35 in the least likely game for the Reds to win. And if they don't, they'll have lost a series to Florida. Yikes.
I’m going to use this as a soapbox to explain my “pitcher with a beard, team’s in the clear(d)” theory: Notice how Milton had two really, really, good outings back when he was sporting the beard and longer hair…now apparently he decided to get a haircut and shave, and what do we see? the old Eric Milton from last year, when he was clean-cut.
It’s not just him. Harang had the goatee for the first couple mediocre starts…and he had a beard, or at least the beginnings of one, for his 7-inning shutout. If Claussen or Arroyo COULD grow facial hair, they’d probably have beards…and of course, the poster-boy for this theory is Matt Morris: after a decent career, he started pitching phoenomenally after growing the beard, being in Cy Young contention, and getting a fat payday from the Giants, where, because he’s such a team player, he still sports the beard.
Why was scoring down in the 80’s? The beard was fashionable (Eckersly, Jack Morris, etc.) Why have the Reds never had good pitching (Baseball Minutia, gracias)? Because of the facial hair ban.
I’m not saying there aren’t exceptions to the rule, but, as Ron Burgundy would say, its science. The beard makes the pitcher. Just ask the Eric Milton with the ERA less than 3.
It’s a good point, JKohn710. I happen to be a fan of a neatly trimmed beard, but I’d support anything to banish Eric Milton’s Evil Twin again. If it takes dreads, it takes dreads. Mullet? Go to town! Flock-of-Seagulls? I’ve thought it needed to come back for years.