Boxscore

The Reds lost another heartbreaker last night 4-3.

Mike Leake was the starter for the contest. He was recently swapped in the rotation with Mat Latos, ostensibly because he’s too similar to Bronson Arroyo to have them starting back to back, and not because Latos has been pretty terrible lately. Leake put in a strong performance yesterday, allowing 2 runs (earned) on 5 hits through 8.0 innings pitched.

It was Aroldis Chapman who got the short end of this game by blowing the save in the 9th inning. He managed to strike out one, but then Joe Mauer smacked a double to left, setting up Josh Willingham to homer them both in. The Reds had the bottom of the inning to recover, but that didn’t turn out to be enough time.

On the offensive side, Wilson Valdez continues to inch his way into our hearts, but it’s still a long road, especially when he grounds out to end the game. He went 2-for-5 last night with a run scored and an RBI, which helped bring his AVG up to .237 and OBP to .244. Perhaps these are not the traditional numbers of a #2 hitter, but they’re better than almost all the starting pitchers.

The other RBI were brought in by Joey Votto who broke his 2-game hitless streak with a 2-run home run in the eighth inning. Votto was on deck when the game ended.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 39-32. Today they begin a series with the Brewers in Cincinnati. Latos (5-2, 5.20 ERA) takes on Yovani Gallardo (6-5, 4.22 ERA). First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Five o’clock p.m. and the Reds have already lost today’s game. Tomorrow it’s back to well-reasoned and -researched posts, but tonight I’ve got nothing better to do while the soup simmers than indulge myself in a little bitching.

Complaint #1 – What the hell, Chapman?
Aroldis Chapman made his first appearance today since he handed over the walk-off homer to Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians on Tuesday. And guess what? Chapman blew it again.

Chapman insists that he’s fine physically, though the years have show that pitchers don’t actually know when they’re fine. I suspect there’s a constant level of pain such that a guy can’t necessarily differentiate injury from normal.

Complaint #2 – What the hell, Baker?
Of course, it was Dusty Baker who stupidly put Chapman in for the ninth inning with a one-run lead. What a moron! Even if you don’t think there’s anything wrong with Chapman…that he’s just going through some bad luck right now…you don’t stick him in in that situation.

There’s something in Baker’s psyche that just loves to keep sending failing players out there. It’s possible that he’s got some river of cruelty deep in the oceans of his subconscious, but it’s probably more benevolent than that: a desire to keep giving guys a chance to bounce back. Either way, it ends up being to no one’s advantage.

Complaint #3 – You know why the Reds’ season-high losing streak is only 4?
Johnny Cueto, that’s why. I wish someone else could pull off a win occasionally.

Complaint #4 – Drew Stubbs is about to come back
Well, now that’s not actually much to complain about. In fact, assuming Willy Harris is the one who makes room for Stubbs, the Reds will actually have a decent bench for the first time all year. But with the way I’m feeling this afternoon, my head will explode when Baker puts Stubbs right back in the lead-off spot and he strikes out on 3 pitches. He’s been 0-for-6 in his rehab stint as of this morning.

Complaint #5 – I just hate umpires
I can’t find a single positive about umpires. If they’re perfect, they’re adequate. If they’re less than perfect (and they ALWAYS are) then they make the game about their own authority and infallibility instead of getting the call right. And now that there’s technology available to actually help them do a better job, they’re taking the coward’s path and pushing harder and harder to try to convince the world that no one should ever question their judgement. It disgusts me.

Complaint #6 – “It couldn’t have gone better”
Did the constant fan ridicule drive the orthopedic place to take down the commercial with the lady apparently wandering into strangers’ houses and injecting stories of her busted-hip surgery into their conversations? Because I think that might have been the bad luck charm.

That’s all my bitching for now. I’d like to say I feel better, but I think I’m more worked up now. Time to have a beer, watch some junk t.v., and get ready to have more rational, reasoned complaining tomorrow.

Boxscore

Sigh. Last night’s game started off so well.

Chris Heisey hit a 2-run home run in the first inning with Zach Cozart on base to give the Reds an early lead. But starter Homer Bailey wasn’t up to the task of holding the lead against one of the worst teams in the majors. Bailey allowed runs in the second, third, and fourth, giving up the early lead.

But the offense was up to the first loss of the lead. In the bottom of the fourth, with the Reds down 3-2, Scott Rolen came to the plate with a man on and launched his third home run of the season. The Reds had a 4-3 lead.

Bailey settled down for the fifth, pitching a scoreless inning, but he got into trouble in the sixth and couldn’t make it out. And with the bases loaded and one out, manager Dusty Baker brought in newly activated reliever Bill Bray. Bray failed, allowing 2 inherited runners to score.

This lead loss was one the offense couldn’t overcome, despite opportunities.

The loss brings Cincinnati’s losing streak to a season-high 4 games in a row. They turn to Johnny Cueto to stop it this afternoon at 4:10pm EDT.

As RHM said yesterday in her injury report, left-handed reliever Bill Bray was “due to come back any time now.” And that time was just before last night’s game.

Bray was activated from the disabled list and reinstated to the active roster. To make room for him, J. J. Hoover was optioned down to the AAA Louisville Bats.

Hoover had been doing very well for the Reds, so hopefully losing him won’t damage the team. Hoover had a 3.00 ERA over 17 games with Cincinnati.

“It was a very tough decision,” Baker said. “J.J. did a great job for us. He got ready a lot quicker than we anticipated. We thought he’d be ready in the middle of the season. He performed well. It wasn’t anything he did. It was a matter of numbers.

“We told him he’ll be back. Hopefully, he’ll be back to stay a long time. He certainly has the stuff and he was intestinal fortitude for the job. He works hard. You don’t know when he’s around half the time. That’s what you want out of rookies. That’s old school — seen and not heard. He’s the epitome of that.”

Ah, the obligatory “tough decision” comment. Has a manager ever said it was an easy decision to get rid of a player? Regardless, this should make Baker feel more comfortable. He’s been longing to have another lefty in the bullpen.