Last game
The Reds’ offense was anemic yesterday, but it looked like their 2 runs would be enough until suddenly it wasn’t.

Leading 2-0 going into the bottom of the eighth, Jonathan Broxton appeared to get shaken up by a rough defensive play that put a guy on first, and so promptly walked the next batter. Sean Marshall was the one to actually allow the inherited run to score, but even that didn’t seem so bad. After all, it would be Chapman in the ninth.

Aroldis Chapman did come in in the ninth, but his recent struggled continued. He walked the first batter and then gave up back-to-back home runs to Erik Kratz and Freddy Galvis to blow the save and then the game. Coming into the month of May, Chapman’s ERA was 0.68. 20 days and 6 IP later, it’s 3.32.

The 2-3 loss to the Phillies brings the Reds’ record to 26-18. Sounds pretty good, but it’s only good enough to tie with the Pirates for second. Tough division this year.

Next game
The Reds visit the Mets tonight. Johnny Cueto (RHP, 1-0, 2.60 ERA) makes his triumphant return to the rotation and will face off against Shaun Marcum (RHP, 0-4, 6.75 ERA). First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Turn, turn, turn
Cueto has had success with a dynamic he added to his delivery a couple years ago: a turn to face almost the opposite direction as the batter before letting rip. But since then, he’s had a couple injuries that are suspiciously related to those turning-around muscles.

He’s coming back from one of those tonight: while it was a lat strain that put him on the DL in the first place, it was that right oblique that kept him from coming off it in a timely manner. That’s the same injury that took him out of game 1 of the NLDS last year.

If you don’t remember that, it’s because you blocked it out. You might want to seek out a support group or something.

Point is, he’s considering changing up his delivery to protect that oblique muscle. It probably won’t be apparent tonight because you don’t just go around screwing with your mechanics on a day’s notice, but over time.

Myself, I’m all for it. Even if phasing out that peek-a-boo turn makes him somewhat less ace-ish, any Cueto is better than no Cueto.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
Thanks in part to a 4-for-4 plus 2 walks performance on Saturday, Joey Votto has overtaken Shin-Soo Choo as the NL’s OBP leader. At .473 and .456 respectively, Votto and Choo outpace the rest of the league by at least .040 points.

Last Game
After a day off, the Reds opened their series in Miami against the second-worst team in the Majors in a big way. Brandon Phillips started the scoring in the first by singling in Joey Votto. Then in the second, the team exploded for a five-run inning–two of which came from bases loaded walks–to give starter Homer Bailey far more run support than he needed.

Bailey was strong during his start, allowing two runs on just six hits, while walking out none and striking out 10. He notched the team’s first complete game of the season and captured just his second win.

Next game
The Reds hope to continue their five game road winning streak against the Marlins when Mike Leake starts. Miami counters with Alex Sanabia. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm.

Heisey further away from return after setback
Chris Heisey, along with Johnny Cueto and Manny Parra, was on a rehab assignment in the Reds’ minor leagues. Unfortunately, he re-injured the right hamstring that he’s on the disabled list for.

“They said he re-strained it,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s something you’re always apprehensive about when they’re coming back. You never really know, because one wrong move could send them back to zero. We hoped that he would be back by Philly, but it looks like now he won’t be.”

The 28-year-old was playing center field and batting second for the Blue Wahoos, but he never stepped in the batter’s box. Pensacola manager Delino DeShields pinch-hit for Heisey in the bottom of the first. The outfielder was originally scheduled to play seven innings.

This means we’ll continue to see more of Xavier Paul and Donald Lutz in left field. Considering how much better than Heisey both have been performing, that’s probably a good thing.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
Seven Cy Young winners started Major League baseball games yesterday. Barry Zito, Bartolo Colon, CC Sabathia, Jake Peavy, Felix Hernandez, R. A. Dickey, and Clayton Kershaw all pitched, with Sabathia and Hernandez facing each other.