Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Dodgers (78-74)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
Reds (92-60)	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	3	-	6	8	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds started the game with a magic number of 1. All they needed was for the Chicago Cubs to hold on and beat the St. Louis Cardinals or to win their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs were the Cubs and lost in extras, which meant the Reds were going to have to take care of business themselves if they wanted to clinch today.

Mat Latos held up his end of the deal, throwing a better 8 innings than Bronson Arroyo did the night before. In his 8 innings, he shutout the Dodgers and allowed 6 hits, no walks, and struck out 7. He’s been amazing the second half of the season, and it’ll be nice to see him in the playoffs. The kid can pitch.

The Reds’ offense was slow to get started again, and it looked for the first third of the game that another excellent start might be wasted. But Jay Bruce–he who hit the division-winning home run back in 2010–came to the plate in the 4th inning and launched his 34th home run of the season into the right field seats. That put the Reds on the board and gave them a lead they would never relinquish.

Plus, it gave Bruce home runs in consecutive division-clinching games. I think that a new rule should be passed saying he has to do that moving forward.

After that, the offense woke up. In the 5th, Todd Frazier singled in Brandon Phillips. In the 7th, Phillips hit his 18th home run. And in the 8th, the Reds scored a total of 3 runs, one from a sacrifice bunt from Chris Heisey, and 2 from a single from Zack Cozart.

Afterwards, the Reds partied on the field and in the clubhouse, but I have a feeling their work isn’t done. In 2010, the team hadn’t had a winning season in a decade, so the division was an achievement. This time, most of the players remember the early playoff exit, and none of them want that again.

The Reds do still have the best record in the National League and home-field advantage throughout the post-season to play for, but I imagine we’ll start seeing the regulars rested. Even though tonight’s game will be ESPN’s Sunday night game, don’t be surprised to see a lot of backups in the line up. Homer Bailey will start for Cincinnati, while for the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw will start, if he’s deemed healthy enough. Otherwise, expect to see Aaron Harang. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05pm.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Dodgers (78-73)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	7	0
Reds (91-60)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds had their first chance to win their division last night, thanks to the St. Louis Cardinals choking at the last minute against the Chicago Cubs. Unfortunately, the Reds’ offense was not up to the challenge.

Bronson Arroyo had another nice start, this time going 8 innings and allowing 1 run on 6 hits and no walks. He struck out 4. During that time, the offense managed one meager run, and that was driven in from Arroyo’s bat.

The game stayed tied at 1-run apiece through regulation, and extra innings were forced. Sam LeCure started the top of the 10th, but quickly got into trouble. He hit his first batter. Two sacrifice bunts later–one of which did not result in any outs–LeCure walked the bases loaded.

At this point, substitute manager Chris Speier called on Sean Marshall to attempt to escape the 1-out, bases-loaded jam. Marshall started out well, striking out Andre Ethier. But the next batter, Matt Kemp, singled to right field, driving in 2 and giving the Dodgers the lead.

The Reds managed nothing but a walk in the bottom of the 9th in their failed comeback attempt.

The Reds’ magic number remains one. Assuming the Cardinals don’t collapse against the Cubs again, the Reds will attempt to clinch the division this afternoon at 4:05 pm. Mat Latos goes for Cincinnati, while Stephen Fife goes for the Dodgers.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (91-59)	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	5	9	0
Cubs (58-92)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	3	11	0

Boxscore

Remember when Johnny Cueto became the first National League pitcher to get his 17th win? Yeah, that was the last time Cueto got a victory, 4 starts ago. But finally, on his 4th try, he picked up his 18th victory.

Cueto wasn’t Cueto, but he was pitching against the Chicago Cubs, so it didn’t matter. Over 6 innings, Cueto allowed no runs on 5 hits with a season-high of 4 walks. He struck out 2. But thanks to the offense finally coming through in the top of the 7th, he was able to get the win.

That top of the 7th inning was the only time the Reds scored. The lack of runs could’ve been due to the minor league line-up the Reds were using, but again, it was the Cubs. And in the 7th, the lineup they scored 5, which was one more than they needed.

With runners on 1st and 3rd, Didi Gregorius singled to right to break the scoreless tie. Then Joey Votto pinch-hit for Cueto and laced the 2nd pitch he saw into left field to drive in another run. Xavier Paul and Henry Rodriguez finished out the scoring with hits of their own.

The bullpen was shaky, with Jose Arredondo, Logan Ondrusek, and Alfredo Simon all allowing runs. Considering the small number of runs the bullpen’s been allowing lately, it was kind of nice for them to allow some when the team had a big lead.

In the end, the 5-run deficit the Cubs faced was too much to overcome. The Reds won by a score of 5-3, sweeping the series and lowering their magic number to 2. Should the St. Louis Cardinals lose to the Cubs tomorrow and the Reds defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Reds will clinch the division. Bronson Arroyo will go against Joe Blanton at 7:10pm.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (89-59)	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	4	0
Cubs (58-90)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	0

Boxscore

Last night, thanks to an excellent start from Homer Bailey, the Cincinnati Reds returned to their record to a season-high 30 games over .500.

Bailey has been pitching much better of late, certainly placing himself into the consideration for a playoff rotation spot. Over 7 1/3 innings, Bailey allowed 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4. The outing improved his record to a career-high 12 wins. He joins fellow starters Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, and Bronson Arroyo with at least 12 wins.

The offense was held largely in check by the Chicago Cubs except for one inning. In that inning, the 6th, Joey Votto, Ryan Ludwick, and Jay Bruce all walked to load the bases. The next batter, Scott Rolen, flew out to the center fielder. It was a hit that was deep enough for a normal runner to attempt to tag up and score from 3rd base, but Votto barely budged. That surgically repaired knee was not going to be tested.

Thankfully, it didn’t have to be. The next batter, Ryan Hanigan, came through with a bases-clearing double that gave the Reds all the runs they’d need. Plus, it allowed Votto to basically walk home.

The win reduced the Reds’ magic clinching number to 4. Mike Leake will attempt to reduce that further tonight when he starts against Chris Rusin at 8:05pm.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Reds	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	17	0
Marlins	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	4	8	1

Boxscore

The Reds just barely eked out a win yesterday to avoid being swept in the 3-game series by the Marlins in Miami.

Mat Latos started for the Reds, and while he wasn’t exactly his sometimes-dominant self, he put in a pretty good showing. In 7.2 innings of work, Latos allowed 4 runs (earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks.

Sam LeCure finished off the eighth inning and pitched the ninth without allowing so much as a hit. Latos struck out 8 in his 7.2 innings, but LeCure did even better, striking out 3 in 1.1 innings. I hope LeCure can keep this going.

Sean Marshall (0.2 IP), Logan Ondrusek (0.1 IP), and Jonathan Broxton (1.0 IP) took care of the rest of the game with hitless performances, though Marshall and Broxton each walked a guy.

It’s almost gotten to be ho-hum from the Reds bullpen, but LeCure, Marshall and Ondrusek each pitched in the situation where allowing any runs equaled immediately losing. That’s gotta be tough.

The offense against suffered from LotsOfHitsButNotLotsOfRuns-itis. Joey Votto was on base 6 times, between his 2 hits in 4 ABs and his 2 walks. Ludwick (3-for-6), Todd Frazier (2-for-6), Dioner Navarro (3-for-6), and Didi Gregorius (3-for-5) also had multi-hit nights.

On the other hand, several guys also left plenty of runners on base: Brandon Phillips (5), Jay Bruce (6), and Todd Frazier (6).

The Reds had the lead after the sixth inning, but allowed Miami a run in each of the seventh and eighth to tie it up. In the eleventh, Carlos Zambrano took the mound for the Marlins, and Chris Heisey managed a single. Votto took a walk, and then Ludwick singled in Heisey. With 0 outs and 2 guys on, it looked good for the Reds to put an insurance run on the board. Instead the next 3 guys got out and the team was charged with defending a 1-run lead.

After 2 quick outs, Donovan Solano took a walk, and then John Buck hit a a long fly ball to center field that I thought for sure was ending the game in the wrong way, but then Drew Stubbs maneuvered the wall and came up with it (pictured).

Fortunately, it turned out to be enough on this night to reduce the magic number to 5. The win brings the Reds’ record to 88-59. They have today off before heading to Chicago tomorrow.