Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds won the rubber-match against the Chicago Cubs, thanks to a very good major league–and professional–debut by one Mike Leake.

Leake pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 7 walks. The walks number is high and something to watch in the future. In Leake’s defense, 2 of those were in the 7th, an inning he never should have pitched in. It was almost like manager Dusty Baker was trying everything in his power to set Leake up for failure. Leake battled through, and the bullpen closed out the game without allowing any further runs.

Speaking of Baker, he did juggle up his lineup. While the casual observer may have found it so minor a change as to not notice it, the hardcore Dusty-ite would instantly see it for the throwing caution to the wind that it is for Dusty. No doubt, Baker was sweating as he wrote the names down, erasing them, then shaking his head and writing them again. I’m sure he was rocking Leo Mazzone-style throughout the game. Baker’s change? He moved the catcher to 6th in the order, and put the left-fielder and right-fielder behind him.

Of course, despite the clogging of the bases that allowed the Reds to win, you can’t argue with the results. The loaded bases in the 8th let the Reds tie the game with a walk, followed by a sacrifice tie to get the lead.

The Cubs received good starting pitching, but the offense against failed, despite having plenty of opportunities. The Cubs left 12 men on base this game. That, plus the 13 from the first game of the series, means the Cubs offense stranded 25 runners in their losses to the Reds. That’s something Cubs fans hope will change.

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds made it back to .500–if you count 0-0 as .500–yesterday, but they didn’t make it look easy.

Homer Bailey struggled against the Chicago Cubs, needing 106 pitches to get through 5 innings. In many ways, he resembled the Bailey of old, with no control leading to 2 walks and 2 hit by pitches. Unlike the younger Bailey, this time, Homer battled through and never allowed a big inning. The Cubs scored only 3 runs off him.

After that, Micah Owings came in and pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving the Reds time to retake the lead, which they did in dramatic fashion. As I was pounding away my frustrations at DirecTV not providing the Reds HD on the elliptical machine, the Cubs bullpen imploded. Jonny Gomes and Ramon Hernandez walked to start the 8th. Chris Dickerson followed with a perfect bunt that allowed him to reach first safely. Then Drew Stubbs came to the plate and launched one into the Reds bullpen for the lead.

The Reds defense made it interesting in the 9th for Francisco Cordero, though. Cordero muffed one grounder that Brandon Phillips expertly scooped bare-handed and threw to Joey Votto for the out. A good thing, too, because Derek Lee hit the next one out, bringing the Cubs within one. Then errors by Scott Rolen and Paul Janish loaded the bases before Cordero closed things out for his first save.

It was a very ugly win for the Reds, and a loss that Cubs fans will be kicking themselves over for a while. Any day you have 11 hits, leave 13 men on base, and lose by one has to make you see red. Thankfully, this time, they’re seeing Cincinnati Red.

The series continues today with Carlos Zambrano going against Aaron Harang at 1:10pm EDT.

Boxscore

Just like Aaron Harang for the Reds, Carlos Zambrano had a rough opening day. Unlike Harang, Zambrano didn’t make it out of the 2nd inning.

The Chicago Cubs started off the game promisingly, with Marlon Byrd hitting a 3-run home run in the top of the first, but Zambrano killed all that.

Big Moose allowed 8 runs–all earned–in 1 1/3 innings. Not what the Cubs wanted out of their ace, especially with Ted Lilly starting the season on the disabled list. Zambrano allowed 6 hits, walked 2, and allowed 2 home runs, and the Cubs–like always–never had a chance.

It could have been worse. Instead of setting a personal worst for his shortest outing ever, Zambrano only tied it. You’ve definitely got to find the silver lining when talking about the Cubs.