It hasn’t been quite as much fun as watching the game last night, but I’ve certainly enjoyed reading the recaps from the Enquirer and the Post. From Kevin Kelly:
Adam Dunn has hit them higher and he has hit them longer.
But to recall a home run as electrifying as the one he hit into the visitor’s bullpen Friday night at Great American Ball Park, the powerful Reds left fielder had to think back more than a few years.
“I hit one in Little League that was pretty cool,” Dunn said. “This is probably second.”
His grand slam off Cleveland Indians closer Bob Wickman with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday completed an improbable comeback and lifted the Reds to a 9-8 win before 34,930 fans.
The victory moved the Reds into a tie with St. Louis for first place in the National League Central.
“We had no business winning that game,” Dunn said. “It shows a lot about our team. We could have easily folded the tent. Everyone kept grinding and grinding.
“Good things happen when you do that.”
Yes, and some good things certainly happened last night.
Here’s Josh Katzowitz, in the Post:
After singles by Kearns and Phillips, Valentin made the score 8-5 with an RBI groundout. Then, with two outs, Wickman walked pinch-hitter Ryan Freel and shortstop Felipe Lopez to load the bases for Dunn.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Wickman, who threw 34 pitches (14 for strikes) to fall to 1-4 on the sea- son. “It’s embarrassing. I couldn’t throw a strike.”
He threw one to Dunn, who took Wickman’s fastball and deposited it into the Indians’ bullpen.
“The last two innings, we got a walk here, a base hit, walk, walk, base hit,” Dunn said. “At the end, it was just one swing away.”
Finally, John Fay has this piece about Adam Dunn, clutch hitter. Wonder what Marty thinks about the last two games, where Dunn has won each game with a clutch hit?
Can any of our stat oriented guys tell me when was the last time a Reds player hit a 2 out in the bottom of the ninth, grand slam HR to win the game? I can’t remember it ever happening before.