Game 47: Brewers 6, Reds 2
By
Amanda
Posted at 2:48 pm
The Reds failed to take home the sweep of the Brewers on Wednesday. It was a game that featured a strange line-up and plenty of struggling pitching.
- Phillips 2B
- C. Ross LF
- Griffey CF
- Aurilia SS
- Kearns RF
- Hatteberg 1B
- Encarnacion 3B
- LaRue C
- Claussen P
Brandon Claussen took the mound and worked six innings. He allowed five runs (earned) on seven hits and two walks for the loss.
Matt Belisle got the first out of the seventh, but allowed one run (earned) on one hit in the process. Brian Shackelford also worked an out but held the Brewers hitless. Rick White worked one-and-a-third innings and allowed no runs on one hit. David Weathers worked the ninth inning and allowed zero runs on zero hits.
The Brewers already had all the runs they would need to win the game before the Reds scored their first run in the bottom of the third inning. Claussen led off with a single and Brandon Phillips walked. Cody Ross, fresh off the DL, singled to load 'em up.
Ken Griffey Jr grounded out to bring in Claussen. At least they got one run out of it; the 2005 team would have scored none in a no-outs bases-loaded situation. Rich Aurilia then walked to load them up again to set up the 2006 team to score none in a one-out bases-loaded situation.
Austin Kearns hit a solo shot in the sixth to bring in the other Reds' run.
The loss brings the Reds' record to 27-20. They're in second place in the NLC, four games back of St. Louis and two-and-a-half games up on third-place Houston. Tonight they start a three-game home series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:10 p.m. Eric Milton faces Brandon Webb.
“strange” is a good word for the lineup, but I think “crappy” is even better. I think I referred to it as the “B-squad” in one of my posts. You can’t throw that lineup out there with a question mark like Claussen on the mound.
I was even more disgusted with the double switch that brought McCracken into the game. The man struck out on three – THREE! – pitches in the bottom of the 9th.
Unbelievable.
Yeah, when I saw that Lopez and Dunn were both sitting, my initial response was, “oh, so they’re forfeiting this one.”
At least the guys should be well-rested tonight.
[quote]Brandon Claussen took the mound and worked six innings. He allowed five runs (earned) on seven hits and two walks for the loss.[/quote]You know, somewhere, Dave Williams was shaking his head and saying, “I can do that.”
I just realized how little sense that last comment of mine made. Sorry about that; I’m shaking off an upper-respiratory infection and my waking hours are pretty foggy.
Zel, you’re not saying you want Williams back, are you? Or just that you want Claussen to put in less Williams-esque performances?
The comment made perfect sense to me. What to do when you’re having trouble scoring? Sit the guy who’s led your team in runs scored and runs batted in for what seems like forever (Dunn) and the only 2005 All-Star in your lineup. Right, Jerry, just mail it in and set your sights on the D-Backs.
<sigh>
John, HMZ
Ha! No. No way am I saying that I want Williams back, although I wouldn’t have been averse to him spending some time in the bullpen. It’s not like the team doesn’t have plenty of holes there.
I just think Claussen ought to be watching himself. Krivdawg has shown remarkably little patience for pitchers who can’t throw strikes consistently. Hudson, Keisler, Standridge, and now Williams. I think Claussen is on the pickle.