Boxscore

The 2010 baseball season has come to a close, and the Cincinnati Reds were victors for the 91st time. That’s right. 91 wins. It’s been a good year. It’s been a very good year.

Aaron Harang made what was likely his last start and appearance ever for the Reds. He started strong, striking out the first batter he faced on 3 pitches, but had to leave early due to a blister on his pitching hand. His final line was 2 innings, in which he allowed 2 runs and struck out 3. Harang’s contract is up at the end of the year, and there’s no reason for the Reds to bring him back, especially with the glut of good young pitching the Reds have. I’ll miss him, though, and always remember him fondly for the years when he was the only good thing happening in Reds baseball. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to lead the team into the playoffs.

The bullpen took over and didn’t allow the Brewers to score any more runs. And Jay Bruce hit his 25th home run on the year in the fourth inning to give the Reds the lead.

The Reds end the year in first place with a record of 91-71. It was an unqualified success for a team without a winning record since 2000, and without a postseason appearance since 1995. Now they get to prepare to face the Philadelphia Phillies next week.

Oh, by the way, the last time the Reds won 91 games? Just an insignificant little year in Reds history with the number 1990.