Boxscore

The Reds set themselves up for a series sweep last night by winning the second game against the Astros, 12-9.

Mat Latos started for the Reds against notorious Reds killer, Wandy Rodriguez. However, Latos was in true April form and turned out to be closer to a Reds killer than his opponent. In 3.1 innings of work, he allowed 7 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and a walk. Then came the parade of most of the bullpen:

• J.J. Hoover .2 innings/2 runs (earned)/3 hits
• Sam LeCure 2.0 innings/0 runs/0 hits
• Jose Arrendondo 1 inning/0 runs/1 hit
• Sean Marshall 1 inning/0 runs/0 hits
• Aroldis Chapman 1 inning/0 runs/0 hits

What are we to do with young Latos? He’s probably put too much pressure on himself. After all, here he is on a better team than he’s used to, where they paid a lot to bring him on board, and lots of other people around him are 50 shades of awesome. I wouldn’t like to see him given the Sean Marshall treatment, but they are going to have to figure something out. You can’t be running five relievers out there every five days.

For a change, though, the offense did the pitchers a solid and got back anything that got given away. Though they only lost the lead once, it felt to me, as a fan, like they were behind from the third inning on. It was oddly grim, especially considering how the line came out.

With so much offense, it’s hard to list everyone’s contribution. I guess games like this just lend themselves to bullet lists:

• RBIs were contributed by Drew Stubbs (4), Joey Votto (2), Brandon Phillips (3), Chris Heisey, Ryan Ludwick, and Todd Frazier.
• Votto, Frazier, Stubbs, and Ludwick each had hit home runs
• Joey Votto went 4-for-4 with a walk. His AVG after this game is .345. He was also caught stealing once and picked off once. Someone’s working on his running game.

The win brings the Reds record to 30-22 and gives them a 3.5 game lead in the NLC. They’re finished the series as I write this. Bronson Arroyo took on Jordan Lyles.