Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds lost their fourth game in a row last night, and their third straight to the Colorado Rockies. The good news is that the St. Louis Cardinals also lost, keeping the Reds 6-game lead intact, and moving their magic number down to 19, the lowest in the National League.

The primary reason for the loss was Bronson Arroyo. Yes, Bad-rroyo showed up last night, and he allowed 7 runs in 4 1/3 innings. He also allowed 3 home runs. The Reds pitching staff has had a very difficult time containing the Rockies offense. Of course, most teams have. Colorado has one of the best home records in all of baseball. They are a team made for their stadium, but away from it, they’re only 29-42.

Still, it would have been nice to at least tie the series. Now, the Reds will have to go for the not-swept today.

The Reds 2 runs came from an RBI off the bat of Joey Votto, who was 3-3 with a walk, and Paul Janish. The offense has been quiet in Colorado, probably due in no small part to the team having only 3 outfielders. These guys need a day off, and Walt Jocketty has failed to bring up someone to help cover Jay Bruce during his injury. It’s quite shameful.

The Reds have one more game in Colorado before heading home to begin a 7-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have a feeling that will be the cure for all this losing.

The affable, always cheery, “smilin’ side of the scoreboard” Cincinnati Reds broadcaster George Grande announced his retirement last year. And I’ve missed him a lot this year, particularly every game that Paul Keels has broadcast. The only way to make the loss bearable has been with the Georginator 6000 XL.

Good news everyone! Fox Sports Ohio just announced that Grande will be back starting this Saturday the 11th. The only sad thing is that he’ll miss getting to see Jim Edmonds play for the Reds.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – While the Cincinnati Reds recognize the 25th anniversary of Pete Rose’s 4,192nd career hit this weekend, FOX Sports Ohio will also celebrate this milestone. Following the Reds vs. Pirates game on Sunday, September 12, FOX Sports Ohio will air the September 11, 1985 game when Rose singled to left-center field off San Diego Padres pitcher Eric Show at Riverfront Stadium to pass Hall-of-Famer Ty Cobb and become MLB’s all-time hits leader.

Beginning Saturday, September 11, George Grande will return to the FOX Sports Ohio Reds broadcast booth. Grande was the television play-by-play voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 17 years. He will call the Reds vs. Pirates game this Saturday as well as the following games this month:

• Friday, September 17: Reds vs. Astros 8pm
• Saturday, September 18: Reds vs. Astros 7pm
• Sunday, September 19: Reds vs. Astros 2pm
• Friday, September 24: Reds vs. Padres 10pm
• Saturday, September 25: Reds vs. Padres 8:30pm
• Sunday, September 26: Reds vs. Padres 4pm

The Reds have been playing so well lately, that a couple losses in a row is a shadow of a reminder of what September baseball has been for Reds fans for the last ten years (the fact that Aaron Harang was part of the problem notwithstanding).

For the Cardinals series, I kinda had other plans. I guess that’s pretty telling in itself. Friday and Saturday we were using up the last of our Indianapolis Indians ticket package, though we did catch the first four innings of Saturday’s game from the TGIFriday’s across the street from the stadium.

Isn’t it sad that the minor league season is already over? I have been so disappointed with how fast this summer has gone, especially because even while it was happening I was wishing I could spend more time outside. But with it being hotter than the devil’s drawers out there, there hasn’t been much choice than to sit in the basement and try not to melt.

There are many good reasons to consider global climate change and try to stop it, but the inability to enjoy baseball outside is the most poignant for me right now.

Sunday we hosted a cookout while we took in the last game of the series, and while I did make a point to sit in front of the t.v. for at least a few innings, the reality of hosting a cookout is that you’re up and about a lot. And with a game as memorable as Sunday’s (right now I actually can’t remember any of it), there isn’t a lot of incentive to make the kids get their own damn Capri Sun.

After the game, though, I do remember the quiet realization that it didn’t really bother me that the Reds had lost the series. After all, the Cardinals certainly needed it more; it’s no wonder they were after it so hard.

Even today, after watching a million stranded runners and the crapitude that the Reds’ pitching delivered to provide the rather score of 5-10, I’m just beginning to remember how it used to be, with the broadcasters trying to find yet another way to say, “maybe tomorrow.”

Well, maybe tomorrow, indeed, but it doesn’t have the grim ring it has in years past. I’ve got nothing standing in the way of taking in the game in all its glory tomorrow. Let’s see a good one.

Boxscore

The Louisville Bats, the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the International League. Last night, we caught their game against the Indianapolis Indians, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to see how they would fare now that the Reds have called up so many of their best players. The answer was: very well.

The offense charged out of the gate, scoring six times in the top of the first. But Bats starter Tom Cochran allowed the Indians to halve the lead in the bottom of the first. Cochran lasted just four innings, thanks to a pitch count of 95.

The bullpen wasn’t perfect, allowing 3 more runs, but the Bats were up to the task and scored 10 more runs over the rest of the game.

The Bats warming up before the game.

Shortstop prospect Zach Cozart stretching during pregame.

Tom Cochran pitching to the Indians. Despite the offensive outburst, he didn’t get the win. He was removed after 4 innings, having allowed 3 runs.

Todd Frazier batting and on his way to a 3-hit, 4-RBI night.

The win puts the Bats 1/2 game out of first place and 1 game ahead in the wild card standings.

I was wearing my Joey Votto jersey at the game, and I saw not one, not two, but three (Ah! Ah! Ah) other Votto jerseys. He’d definitely getting some fans all the way in Indianapolis.