There’s a secondary headline in a story on Reds.com today about how Dusty Baker is mentoring his guys through their struggles with hitting with runners in scoring position. It actually paints Baker in a pretty good light, especially considering that many times when he opens his mouth it’s to say really stupid things.

This time, though, he was saying how young guys come up and don’t know to think about what the pitcher is trying to do to them. Knowing if the guy is trying to strike you out, pop you up, or keep you on the ground can give you an advantage in your approach.

Sounds pretty smart to me. And then, this:

“Over the years since I’ve been here, I’ve tried to tell the guys the same thing that was told to me. The RBI man is a big man,” Baker said. “Everybody talks about on-base percentage, which is important. But even more important is when you get them out there, how many RBI men are around?”

Sing it from the hilltops, my friends: on-base percentage is important, at least in a subordinate clause kind of way. At this rate, we might even hear him utter that walks don’t clog the bases. You know, sometime before the end of this century.

Put this one in the You Don’t See That Every Day category: just moments after the final pitch of the Indian’s 4-1 win over the Cardinals yesterday, Indians’ closer Chris Perez vomited in the field. From the game wrap on Indians.com:

[Indians’ manager Manny] Acta called on former Cardinal Chris Perez to close out the game. Perez recorded his American League leading 20th save. Immediately after getting a pat on the back from [catcher Carlos] Santana following the last out, Perez turned toward the outfield and threw up on the field. He didn’t make it much further before going down to one knee and vomiting again.

“It’s a hot day and when I came out to throw, I took a couple drinks of warm water and it didn’t really sit well with my stomach,” Perez said. “After I struck out [Daniel] Descalso it almost came up and when the game was over I just let it out. Nothing serious, I’m fine.”

It’s understandable: the Cardinals have made us all want to gag at some point or another. And what a nice consolation prize for the Cardinals, who were hosting the Indians last night. Maybe he’ll autograph it for them.

The Indians come to Cincinnati for a visit tomorrow, and hopefully Perez is feeling better by then (or at least staying home sick, if that’s the case). The World Famous Great American Ball Park grounds crew doesn’t deserve that.

P.S. – Deadspin has video. The best part is how the vomit seems to take Perez entirely by surprise. No, the really best part is how the talking head just continues with closing out the broadcast, despite the fact that the vomit was actually caught on tape and the crowd of concerned teammates that were surrounding him by the end of the clip.

Even if the broadcaster wasn’t looking at the screen, wasn’t there anyone else in the booth to give him an elbow? Sort of a “hey buddy, hold off on the record and demonstrate a bit of human compassion to the guy losing his lunch in center.” On the other hand, I’m not sure what the broadcaster could say at that point. He’s not exactly in a hair-holding position.

Boxscore

It looked so good for the Reds at first. They chased the starter after the third (with the help of a blister), they were enjoying a solid bounce-back performance from Homer Bailey, and they were rocking a 4-run lead. If only we could just remember this game as it was in the sixth inning.

Bailey took the mound for the Reds, having just come off that unfortunate performance against the Pirates last week. But he put together a respectable start last night. In 6.2 innings pitched he allowed 3 runs (earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks. He had two outs in the seventh but when he let Berry get a single, Dusty Baker couldn’t keep his dirty little fingers out of the pie any longer and yanked him for Jose Arredondo.

Arredondo promptly walked Miguel Cabrera and got the hook himself. Sean Marshall was the next mismanaged pitcher, who gave up a hit to Prince Fielder and was unceremoniously yanked. Logan Ondrusek then came in to get the last out of the inning.

Now, to me, walking Cabrera isn’t exactly a crime. Nor is giving up a hit to Fielder. These are things that happen basically every day when teams are playing the Tigers. For a guy who’s supposed to be a players’ manager, sticking two guys with a line that says “couldn’t get an out” seems like kind of a jerk thing to do.

Myself, I would have given Bailey one more guy. Even if he gave up the home run the Reds still would have had the lead and the whole situation wouldn’t have reeked of overmanagement.

Of course, the pitching situation didn’t get blown-save ugly until the eighth inning. Ondrusek came back out to face two batters and gave up another run. So what do you do when you can’t leave the pitchers alone for a minute in the eighth inning in a save situation? Say your save word, of course: Chapman.

Aroldis Chapman, however, was not his usual self for his second outing in a row. He allowed 2 runs (earned) on 2 hits and a walk. This put Baker in a tough situation. He’d already played his ace and lost.

But the reliever everyone forgot about, Alfredo Simon, valiantly took the mound. He threw a one-hit ninth and even struck a guy out. And it’s hard to imagine that the Tigers were going easy on him, with just a one-run lead. So, good for Simon.

For the offense, Todd Frazier was all ready to take his turn as hero. He went 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and a 2-run home run in the sixth that extended the lead to 6-2.

Zack Cozart and Devin Mesoraco also contributed solo shots to the scoring total. Jay Bruce walked twice. Joey Votto, on the other hand, when 0-for-4, breaking his 15 game hitting streak.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 32-27 and opened the door just enough for the Pirates to swashbuckle their way into a share of first place. The Reds have an off day today to think about what they’ve done before hosting the Cleveland Indians tomorrow. Johnny Cueto (6-3, 2.63 ERA) goes against Jeanmar Gomes (4-4, 4.97 ERA) at 7:10 p.m.

Boxscore

It was a game I expected the Cincinnati Reds to lose, but then ended up feeling disappointed when they did so.

The Detroit Tigers sent the reigning AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander to the mound last night, and everybody knew it was going to be tough for the Reds to win. Sure Verlander had a personal 3-game losing streak, but he’s about the best pitcher in the majors and no one on the Reds had much, if any, experience against him.

But then the Reds eschewed manager Dusty Baker’s “Swing at everything so the umpire doesn’t have to sort it out” mantra and were making incredible at-bat after incredible at-bat. It’s like everyone paid attention to the plate approaches of Joey Votto and Ryan Hanigan. More often than not, the count was going full, and Verlander was throwing 6 or more pitches per batter.

After 5 innings, the patience had worked. Verlander had thrown 113 pitches and the game was tied at 2-2. Verlander pitched one more inning, leaving the game after 127 pitches, and the game was still tied.

Bronson Arroyo had been far more pitch-efficient and had kept the game close. Over 7 innings, he threw 87 pitches and allowed just 2 runs–both solo home runs–while allowing 5 hits, no walks, and striking out 4. But the bullpen couldn’t keep the potent Tigers’ offense scoreless. Sean Marshall allowed an RBI single to Prince Fielder that scored Detroit’s 3rd run. And the Reds were never able to score against the Tigers’ bullpen.

The Reds tied the game in the 4th, thanks to a 2-RBI single from Todd Frazier. Chris Heisey and Joey Votto–of course–scored on his hit. Votto extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

The Reds played great, and I hope to see more of that patient plate approach in the future. I know they have it in them now.

The win by the Tigers evened the series at 1 game apiece. Homer Bailey tries to win the series for the Reds tonight, while the Tigers counter with Drew Smyly. The first pitch will be at 8:00 pm EDT, and it will be televised on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.