Boxscore

The Cardinals undoubtedly view last night’s game against the Brewers as one that they should have won. The Brewers, who won their 5th straight and moved into a tie with the Cardinals, probably wouldn’t agree.

St. Louis tied the game in the bottom of the 9th to force extras, but that didn’t last long. In the top of the 10th, Ryan Franklin, current closer for the Cardinals, did anything but close things out. Franklin allowed three runs, including a home run from Bill Hall.

The loss gives the bullpen 21 losses so far this year, which is second only to the Giants. Obviously an area that needs to improve if the team wants to continue to hang with Chicago and Milwaukee.

Boxscore

Rich Harden made his second start for the Cubs last night, and he was impressive. Harden went 7 innings and allowed only one run while striking out 10 batters. Unfortunately, Randy Johnson rose to the challenge and bettered him, shutting out the Cubs and allowing only 2 hits over his 7 innings.

The Cubs never scored, even after Johnson left the game. Perhaps those bats are missing Alfonso Soriano, after all. He made his first rehab start last night, so barring any setbacks, he’ll be back with the team soon. We’ll see if that’ll be enough to hold of the surging Brewers and the 100 year drought.

The Red Hot 7-year old was scared tonight, as even non-red-hot children are known to be while lying in bed at night, so with one out in the top of the ninth inning with the Reds enjoying a one-run lead against the woeful Padres, I went to guard against the unidentified noises with the expectation that I’d miss the rest of the game.

What the heck should I find when I return but another freaking Cordero blown save. Is he hurt? He’s hurt, right? This can’t just be poor management or the realization that the team isn’t going anywhere this year. Give that man an MRI!

Listening to the commentary tonight, Chris Welsh expressed concern over the Reds trading David Weathers at this point, lest the team give the fans the message that they’ve given up on the season.

Really? I know that John Fay thinks the Reds still have a chance, but do most fans really think the Reds can achieve the minor miracle it would take to contend this season? THEY ARE 11 1/2 GAMES BACK.

On a completely different topic, yesterday I made my first-ever attempt at mountain-biking on an “intermediate” level bike trail near my house. I was not a natural. My first major crash occurred when my bike hit a tree root, causing me to hit the tree. The scrapes and bruises are gruesome, but thankfully, only on my right side. The CTS was making his second-ever attempt at mountain biking, after an initial attempt much like mine, but escaped yesterday’s ride without so much as a scratch, so I’m hopeful about next week.

Which is a common sentiment around Reds country these days. And I see the bottom of the inning that never should have happened is now over, with the Reds leaving the bases loaded to lose. Poo.

Boxscore

Kyle Lohse responded to not being picked to the All Star team by dominating the Padres and beating Jake Peavy, to boot.

Lohse pitched 7 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits. He struck out 4. That was enough on a day when Peavy was home run happy.

Peavy allowed 4 solo shots. Two to Troy Glaus, who opened the second half with a far stronger bat than he’d shown in the first half, one to Rick Ankiel, and one to pinchhitter Joe Mather.

The Cardinals picked up a half game on the resting Cubs.

Boxscore

Adam LaRoche knocked in a pair of runs with a double to give the Pirates an early 3-run lead last night, but it wasn’t enough.

Paul Maholm could not hold the lead. Although perfect through the first 3 innings, things derailed quickly, and he ended up leaving the game after pitching 6 innings and allowing 5 runs on 8 hits.

So the Pirates, like the Reds, started the second half of 2008 like they have spent the vast majority of the last two decades: losing. However, I actually have a more positive feeling about the future of the Pirates than the Reds. I mean, the Pirates don’t have Dusty Baker.