Boxscore

I realize it’s a little late to be talking about yesterday’s game. I got busy this morning and ran out of time, but I decided to write this one anyway because:

1. If I wrote about today’s game instead, I wouldn’t have much to say tomorrow, when there’s an off-day, and
2. I don’t really want to think about today’s game. I prefer to live in the past. So here we go.

Mat Latos had a hell of a game yesterday, holding the Phillies to just one run. He worked 7.0 innings and only surrendered 4 hits. That’s some skill I’d like to see him demonstrating in the play-offs, my friends.

Jonathan Broxton worked the eighth and didn’t give up a hit to get a hold. Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth and also didn’t give up a hit to get a save (his 35th). This is also the kind of skill I want to see in the play-offs. The bullpen has just been stellar, but it’s kind of easy to forget about because we can go for such long stretches without seeing much of it.

Speaking of things we want to see in the post-season, Jay Bruce continued his hot streak last night. He was 2-for-3 with a walk and both of the Reds’ RBI. He hit a home run in the sixth with Ryan Ludwick aboard to give the Reds all the score they’d need.

Also notable, if less flashy, Ryan Hanigan also went 2-for-3 on the night (good thing he hits before the pitcher or his contribution might be wasted) and Xavier Paul got a hit in his pinch-hit appearance.

The win brought the Reds’ record to 83-54 and it tied the series with the Phillies at 1. They went on to finish out the series today at 12:35 p.m. If you haven’t checked the score yet, I won’t spoil it, but you can pretty much guess what would happen when Mike Leake (RHP, 7-8, 4.45 ERA) goes up against Roy Halladay (RHP, 8-7, 4.02 ERA).

Boxscore

The Reds lost a disappointing series opener against the Phillies yesterday by a score of 4-2.

Johnny Cueto was pitching for the Reds and had a pretty poor outing by his standards. In 7.0 innings of work, he allowed 4 runs (earned) on 8 hits. Two of those were home runs: one to Jimmy Rollins with 2 guys on in the fifth and a solo shot to John Mayberry in the sixth.

If he’d gotten the win, it would have been a big deal, since no Red has gotten to 18 wins since I was in high school. I guess he’ll have to wait another 5 days for that.

J.J. Hoover and Logan Ondrusek each put in a hitless inning of work to follow up Cueto’s performance. Good for them. It’s nice to know the Phillies can’t just beat up on everybody on the Reds’ roster.

Jay Bruce was the sole provider of the RBI. He hit a home run in the second inning and tried to keep a rally going with 2 outs in the ninth by knocking in Ryan Ludwick. But alas, that’s all that ever came of the offensive threat.

In addition to Bruce’s 2 hits, Ludwick also went 2-for-4, and Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips each had a hit. September call-up Denis Phipps pinch hit in the eighth and walked.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 82-54. Today they continue the series when Mat Latos (RHP, 11-4, 3.79 ERA) tries his hand against Kyle Kendrick (RHP, 8-9, 4.01 ERA) for the Phillies. First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

By this time, Reds fans have heard that injured first baseman Joey Votto made another rehab appearance today, this time in the season-ending game for the AAA Louisville Bats.

Votto went 0-3 with 2 strikeouts, in case you were wondering. He is still expected to rejoin the Reds on Tuesday, which makes sense. The season is over for the minor leagues, so there’s not anywhere else for Votto to go.

Of course, he might be with the team, but there’s still no news on when he might be activated from the disabled list. And really, that’s all that fans care about.

On the one hand, I’m very happy with how the Reds have responded to Votto’s absence.

The Reds are 32-15 since Votto last played. That is the second best record in the majors in that span.

But on the other hand, I really miss him in the lineup. At this point it seems like the team is ready to have him back whenever, but Votto doesn’t feel like he’s comfortable returning. I do want him confident in his ability to help the team, and I’d hate to see him hurt himself returning before he felt ready. Manager Dusty Baker has an excellent point on that.

“We don’t want a (Lance) Berkman situation like in St. Louis, where he goes back on the DL or something happens. We want him right, and we have a bit of a luxury the way guys are playing now where we don’t have to rush him back.”

Everybody wants him back in the lineup as soon as he’s ready, but the most important thing is to have him back, healthy and ready to dominate in the playoffs. That and seeing the fastest ascension of a player ever from A-ball to AAA to the majors.