Boxscore

The Reds won their second game in a row against the Phillies last night to ensure no less than a split of the four-game series.

Over the course of his career, Bronson Arroyo has had more trouble with the Phillies than with any other team. On the other hand, he’s also a guy who never seems to do what you expect him to, and that won out last night. In 8.0 innings, he allowed 2 runs (earned) on just 3 hits. This is the team that scored 12 two games ago, and Arroyo takes a perfect game into the fifth. Will wonders never cease?

The Reds offense first got on the board in the fifth inning. Ryan Hanigan walked to start it off and Arroyo sacrificed him over. A Drew Stubbs single two batter later brought in Hanigan (but I thought he was super-slow?) and set up Ryan Ludwick for an RBI single (after a Brandon Phillips single).

Jay Bruce added the capper in the eighth when he led off the inning with a home run to right field. Bruce also had a triple that didn’t amount to anything but was cool.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 76-49. They finish the series with the Phillies tonight at 7:05 p.m. The Reds’s ace and Cy Young contender Johnny Cueto (RHP, 16-6, 2.44 ERA) will face off against a guy whose name I always want to change into “Whole Camels,” Cole Hamels (LHP, 14-6, 2.94 ERA).

Boxscore

The Reds hung in there in a tight game with the Phillies to finally win by one run. It was an exciting game (though, admittedly, much of the “excitement” was contributed by the Reds’ bullpen) and especially fun to watch since the Reds came out on top.

Homer Bailey started for the Reds. Apparently that Bryan Price was right about the mechanical glitch, because Bailey was back in good form after they corrected it. He went 6.1 innings allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and an HBP. He struck out 6. Not bad, especially against the line-up that tagged the Reds for 12 runs yesterday.

Sean Marshall pitched the rest of the seventh. He came in with 2 on and promptly walked a guy. Then gave up a fat double to Jimmy Rollins to score 2 runs. They weren’t his runners, but Marshall got the blown save anyway. Fortunately, the Reds came back in the top of the next inning to retake the lead.

Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth and gave up 1 run on 2 hits and a walk to again get the blown save. But again, fortunately the Reds came back in the top of the next inning to retake the lead.

Aroldis Chapman gave up a hit to start the bottom of the ninth and it looked like this could go on forever. He managed not to allow any runs, though, and got the save.

It was rookie night at the ball park, and Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier shared the “hero of the game” honors.

In the seventh, Scott Rolen led off with a double, followed up by a walk for Frazier. Ryan Hanigan singled in Rolen, and two batters later, Cozart hit a sac fly to bring in Frazier. Drew Stubbs singled in Hanigan to round out the scoring that inning.

But as you know, the Phillies had tied it up again in the eighth. That’s when a Frazier solo shot came in so handy to give the Reds back the lead. Same story in the ninth, only it was Cozart at the bat. And this time the Phillies had nothing to answer with and the Reds evened the series at 1 apiece.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 75-49. They continue the series tonight in Philly at 7:05 p.m. Bronson Arroyo (RHP, 9-7, 3.96 ERA) faces off against Vance Worley (RHP, 6-8, 4.11 ERA).

Devin Mesoraco’s suspension for contact with umpire Chad Fairchild has been reduced from 3 games to 2 after his appeal. Mesoraco begins serving that sentence immediately.

The suspension forces the Cincinnati Reds to go with a 24-man roster. Since Ryan Hanigan was the only other catcher on the roster, the team decided to make sure that they still had 2 catchers. They activated Dioneer Navarro from AAA Louisville. To make room for Navarro, Logan Ondrusek was optioned to AAA.

Ondrusek has been struggling a little lately, but it’s not exactly worthy of a demotion. Regardless, the rules state he’ll have to remain in the minors for 10 days before being called back up. Unless there’s an injury to another pitcher. And why do I feel that Sam LeCure might be “injured” soon?