Yearly Archives: 2012

August 3, 2012

Game 105: Padres 4, Reds 9

By
Amanda
Posted at 10:12 am

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Reds06020001-9130
W: Cueto (14-5) L: Ohlendorf (3-2)

Boxscore

At the beginning of July, the Reds visited San Diego for a four-game series with the Padres. They lost the first game and won the next three. Yesterday afternoon, the Reds finished another four-game series with the Padres in Cincinnati with the exact same result: lost the first and won the last three.

That’s a winning percentage I can get on board with, even though this time the one loss broke the 10-game winning streak.

Johnny Cueto started for the Reds in yesterday’s afternoon affair. He went 7.1 innings and allowed all 4 runs (earned) on 8 hits and a walk. Logan Ondrusek finished out the eighth inning without allowing a baserunner. Jose Arredondo pitched the ninth and allowed only a walk.

With 9 runs and 13 hits, there’s a lot to talk about on the offensive side. Jay Bruce, Scott Rolen, Zack Cozart, Miguel Cairo, and Ryan Hanigan each had multiple hits. But it was Todd Frazier who hit a 2-run home run in the second and brought in another run on a force out in the eighth who can take the credit for the most RBI.

Frazier’s home run started the scoring in the second, but it was a big inning all around. Cozart and Cairo followed it up with singles, setting up Hanigan to double in a run. Cueto and Xavier Paul made outs, but then Drew Stubbs drew a walk which let Jay Bruce single in another couple runs while leaving runners on the corners. A balk then brought in Stubbs. There were another couple walks, but that turned out to be the end of the scoring. You had to see an inning like that end, but as it turns out, that inning alone was all the runs the Reds would need.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 64-41. Tonight they host the toughest contender they’ve faced in a while: the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mat Latos (RHP, 9-3, 4.17 ERA) faces off against the Pirates’ new acquisition, Wandy Rodriguez (LHP, 0-0, 4.50 ERA). First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Posted in Game Wrap.
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August 3, 2012

Reds take on 2nd place Pirates

By
Amanda
Posted at 7:33 am

Last Game
The Reds won yesterday afternoon to take the last three games in the four-game series against the Padres. Johnny Cueto didn’t have his best stuff, but he still ate some innings and performed well enough to keep the Reds in it.

Ryan Ludwick, who had been dominant in the two previous games, sat yesterday, giving some other guys a chance to be heroes. Among them was Todd Frazier with 3 RBI. Final score: Padres 4, Reds 9.

Next Game
It’s no secret that the Reds have been beating up on some pretty poor teams in the last month, but that changes tonight. The Pirates have won 17 of their last 26, which normally would be the kind of performance that would have you climbing the rankings. We know the Reds can beat up on the teams they should beat. This series we see what happens when an opponent puts up a little more resistance.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Mat Latos (RHP, 9-3, 4.17 ERA) takes on an old friend in Wandy Rodriguez (LHP
0-0, 4.50 ERA).

It’s Bald Marty Day
Earlier in the season, Reds Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman made a comment like, “If this team wins 10 in a row, I’ll shave my head.” Well, then it happened, and he was called on to make good on the promise. Even though he’s 70 years old and his coif has been part of his look forever, he agreed.

But not right away. You don’t just throw away an opportunity like this. So he hooked up with the Reds Community Fund and told the fans that if they came up with $20,000 in donations, he’d have his head shaved on the field after the game tonight for all to see. (If they didn’t come up with the money, he’d have it shaved at his regular barber shop before the game.)

I haven’t heard officially, but I assume they’ve come up with the money because 1) it’s not really that much, and 2) I haven’t seen the big blitz to encourage donations that there would be if they hadn’t made it. Still, if you’d just like to be sure, here’s how you can donate:

  • Go to www.reds.com/community (click on “Support the Reds Community Fund”)
  • Call the Reds Community Fund office at (513) 765-7234
  • Make a cash donation in the giant Reds Piggy Bank located on the Terrace Level behind home plate, though it’s probably a little late for that, I’m sure they wouldn’t turn down your donation.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds lead the central by 3.5 games, so even if the Pirates sweep the series, they cannot overtake first place.

Posted in Daily Briefs.
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August 2, 2012

Game 104: Padres 4, Reds 6

By
Amanda
Posted at 10:34 am

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W: Arroyo (7-6) L: Wells (2-4) S: Chapman (23)

Boxscore

Last night, the Reds won their second in a row against the Padres.

Bronson Arroyo had a little trouble on the mound, but he manned his way through 6.0 innings to give the bullpen a break last night. He allowed 4 runs (earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks. Then came the parade of once and future closers: Sean Marshall pitched the seventh, Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman took the ninth. Only Chapman allowed so much as a hit.

The offense is hurting. Joey Votto isn’t quite back from arthroscopic knee surgery. Brandon Phillips wasn’t in the line-up due to a calf injury. Devin Mesoraco is on the 7-day DL with a concussion. But apparently none of that matters if you’ve got Ryan Ludwick.

Ludwick owned 4 of the Reds’ 6 RBI. In the first he hit a 2-run home run to take the lead, in the fifth he singled in Jay Bruce to retake the lead, and in the seventh he was party to some really poor baserunning that, nontheless, brought in the insurance run.

Honorable mention goes to Drew Stubbs, who was 2-for-3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

The win brings the Reds record to 63-41. They’ve won more than 60% of their games. How crazy is that? This afternoon they finish the series with the Padres. Johnny Cueto (RHP, 13-5, 2.39 ERA) takes on Ross Ohlendorf (RHP, 3-1, 5.05 ERA). First pitch at 12:35 p.m.

Posted in Game Wrap.
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August 2, 2012

Broxton’s debut with the Reds

By
Amanda
Posted at 7:35 am

Last Game
The Reds had to come back from deficits twice, but they finally put the game in the win column. After losing the first game in the series to end the win streak at 10, winning the third game officially starts a new streak. Final score: Padres 4, Reds 6.

Next Game
The Reds and Padres finish out the 4-game set today at 12:35 p.m. in Great American Ball Park. Johnny Cueto (RHP, 13-5, 2.39 ERA) is trying to bounce back from a rough outing last time. For the Padres, Ross Ohlendorf (RHP, 3-1, 5.05 ERA) will be trying to make the series a split.

Always Be Closing
Our shiny new non-waiver trade deadline acquisition, Jonathan Broxton, made his debut last night. Over the course of 11 pitches in the eighth inning, he got Mark Kotsay to strike out on a foul tip, John Baker to ground out to the mound, and Cameron Maybin to ground out to first.

With his last team, the Kansas City Royals, Broxton was a closer. Clearly, the Reds already had a closer in Aroldis Chapman. (Well, 2, actually, if you consider that Sean Marshall started out the year in that role before saying the secret kill word that got him blackballed. And now that I mention it, 3, if you count Ryan Madson, but he had that season-ending injury in spring training and is looking even less likely to be brought back next year now.)

I guess General Manager Walt Jocketty takes the Pokemon approach to closers (Gotta catch ’em all!), but I can’t say that it won’t be nice to have someone to fall back on on those days when Chapman just doesn’t have it.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
In his last 35 games (121 ABs), Ryan Ludwick is batting .339. He has contributed 11 home runs and 29 RBI.

Posted in Daily Briefs.
1 Comment
August 1, 2012

Mesoraco suspended, concussed, all on the same day

By
Zeldink
Posted at 8:01 pm

Devin Mesoraco points out that Chad Fairchild is terrible at his job. Fairchild didn’t take it well.

Being Devin Mesoraco is tough right now. Following his interaction with the horrible umpire Chad Fairchild on Monday, Major League Baseball handed down a 3-day suspension. And to top off his painful day, he’s also been placed on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion.

Mesoraco will appeal the suspension. As for the concussion, that was a last-minute move 30 minutes before game time.

Mesoraco left Tuesday’s game after six innings, with the Reds at the time saying Mesoraco had dizziness from being overheated. Mesoraco collided with Padres baserunner Cameron Maybin during Monday’s game.

Catcher Dioner Navarro was called up from the Louisville Bats. There wasn’t room on the 40-man roster, so Mike Costanzo had to be designated for assignment to make room for Navarro. Hopefully, Navarro will make it to the park before emergency catchers Wilson Valdez or Miguel Cairo would need to be used.

If you’re wondering about Mesoraco serving the suspension while he’s on the DL, I’m afraid that won’t fly. He won’t be allowed to serve his suspension while disabled. When he is suspended, the Reds will have to go with just 24 players, instead of the usual 25.

Posted in Cincinnati Reds, NL Central, Wheeling and Dealing.
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