Boxscore

The game was looking really good until it suddenly wasn’t yesterday, when the Reds lost 1-2 to the Pirates.

Johnny Cueto started for the Reds. In 7 innings of work he allowed 2 run (earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks. Not the best he’s ever been, but hardly a losing effort. Sean Marshall got the first out in the eighth and Logan Ondursek got the other two. Pitching the ninth wasn’t necessary.

The Reds scored their run early, which is why the game felt pretty good for a while there. Zack Cozart started off the game with a hit and was eventually knocked in by Brandon Phillips. But once A.J. Burnett got going, there was no getting to him. Only Chris Heisey and Joey Votto added hits to Cozart’s first one.

Speaking of Votto, he got a day off yesterday (except for that one pinch-hit) and his absence was definitely felt on the field. May the light day yesterday and the off day today prepare him for another two months’ worth of straight starts.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 28-22. The team is off today as it travels to Houston. Tomorrow they take on the Astros at 8:05 p.m. Mike Leake (1-5, 5.47 ERA) takes on J.A. Happ (4-4, 4.37 ERA)

Here are several pictures from the game the RHM clan attended on Memorial Day in Pittsburgh at PNC Park. The Cincinnati Reds started their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and lost 4-1 thanks to a bad outing from Bronson Arroyo and a no-show by the offense.

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After a lengthy rain delay, the Reds and Pirates finally took the field around 9 p.m. for the second in their three-game series. It made for a late night, but a happy result for Reds fans as the Reds took it 8-1.

Homer Baily started and ended for the Reds, turning in his second career complete game. In 9 innings of work he allowed 1 run (earned) on 4 hits and a walk. The outing improves his record to 4-3.

There was plenty of offensive action to go around for the Reds, with all these guys getting one or more hits:

• Drew Stubbs
• Joey Votto
• Brandong Phillips
• Jay Bruce
• Ryan Ludwick
• Todd Frazier
• Homer Baily

Bruce went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. Frazier when 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Even Bailey went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI.

The win brings the Reds record to 28-21 and extends their first-place lead. The series is decided tonight at 7:05 p.m. when Johnny Cueto (5-2, 2.53 ERA) takes on A.J. Burnett (3-2, 4.19 ERA).

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And just like that, another winning streak can begin.

Last night, the Cincinnati Reds bounced back a game after losing their 6-game winning streak and went on an offensive tear. The team hit 3 home runs. Chris Heisey, his second in as many games, hit a 3-run shot for the early lead in the first inning. Devin Mesoraco hit a solo shot in the 4th. And Ryan Ludwick contributed his own 3-run homer of the pinch-hit variety in the 7th.

The 7 runs provided by that barrage were more than enough to win the game, no thanks to another crappy starting performance by Mike Leake. Although in his last start, he was good, this time, not so much. Over 3 2/3 innings, Leake wasn’t fooling anyone. He allowed 3 runs on 9 hits.

Manager Dusty Baker had him on a short leash, though, removing him for J. J. Hoover in the 4th. That move worked, as the bullpen turned in another of its excellent outings. Hoover threw scoreless 1 1/3 innings for the win. He was followed with scoreless turns by Same LeCure, Logan Ondrusek, and Sean Marshall.

Thanks to a St. Louis Cardinals loss, the Reds picked added a game to their first place lead. I think the season can be called off now, right? It’s almost Memorial Day. No team has ever come back when not in first place by Memorial Day.

There is another game today, though. Mat Latos takes to the mound at 1:10pm EDT. The Rockies will counter with a player twice as old as Latos in Jamie Moyer. The Reds will be going for the series win.

Boxscore

All good things must come to an end, and that applied to the Cincinnati Reds’ winning streak yesterday. Despite sending out their best starter against a Colorado Rockies team that hasn’t been very good this year, the Reds lost, ending the streak at 6.

Johnny Cueto started and had his second bad start out of his last three. Hopefully it’s not a harbinger of things to come. Last night, he allowed 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings. There was nothing good about that.

The bullpen took over and were scoreless the rest of the game until the 9th, when Jose Arredondo coughed up a run. Other than that, J. J. Hoover and Alfredo Simon were very good. Simon, after a rough start to the season, has come on strong lately. His 2 innings of scoreless relief last night brought his ERA down to 2.04.

Despite the effectiveness of the bullpen, the 5 runs allowed by Cueto was too much for the offense. They scored just 3 runs, all in the 4th, which tied the game at 3. Unfortunately, Cueto gave up 2 more runs in the very next inning, and the Reds never touched home plate again.

The Reds’ 3 runs came from something the Reds haven’t done lately: stringing hits together. Joey Votto led off with a single–1 of his 4 hits on the day. Brandon Phillips singled before Chris Heisey made an out. Then Ryan Ludwick doubled off the right-field wall to score Votto. Then Todd Frazier tied it by driving in Phillips and Ludwick.

The Reds do keep their place in first for another day, despite the loss. The St. Louis Cardinals dropped one in extras to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Reds start their next winning streak tonight at 7:15pm EDT when the Rockies send out Jeremy Guthrie to face Mike Leake.