Boxscore

Wasn’t that an amazing game yesterday that the Cincinnati Reds had against the Milwaukee Brewers? It had everything. Good pitching, Joey Votto being awesome, and a late comeback.

It didn’t look at first that the Reds would sweep the Brewers. Homer Bailey threw 30+ pitches and allowed a couple runs in the first inning, but he rebounded. Over the course of the rest of his 7-inning outing, he returned to the pitch-efficient, effective ways of his previous start. In total, he went 7 innings, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 4.

The bullpen came in then, to make things even harder for the offense. It’s been hard to get the relievers work lately, what with 3 complete games in the last week. It’s a good problem to have, and I expect that if all the starters start averaging 7 innings a start that we’ll see a reduction in the bullpen staff. There’s no need for 7 relievers when only 2 innings are needed most nights.

Despite Mike Lincoln charging in with the white flag of surrender, his damage to the game was limited. And Joey Votto and Scott Rolen were having none of it. Votto hit a 460ft solo shot in the 8th–one that landed in the faux riverboat beyond center field. Then in the 9th, Paul Janish singled to get things started off Trevor Hoffman. Scott Rolen followed with a pinch-hit homer to tie it. This was no rally-killing home run, though, because Chris Heisey followed with a double. After a walk to Brandon Phillips, Votto stepped to the plate and I knew the game was over. He quickly drove in Heisey and another last-at-bat win was added to the Reds 2010 total. (It’s 10 now, I think.)

Sure, there are problems with the Reds, and it’s hard to ignore that niggling voice in the back of your head that says, “They’ve done this before. May isn’t the same as September.” But I urge you to squash that little voice and enjoy this moment. It hasn’t been often that we’ve gotten to see competent, enjoyable play out of the Reds, and it would be a shame to miss it.