Time for a recap of today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Pittsburgh: 0
Cincinnati: 2
WP: Harang (1-1)
LP: Snell (0-2)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Aaron Harang! A complete game shutout, giving up just three hits, striking out 9 and walking none. Simply a dominant performance. The best opening week performance by a Reds starter since 1954. Heap the praise on Harang; he earned every bit of it. The old Aaron Harang is back!
–Willy Taveras was 2-3 in the leadoff spot. He may be the fastest guy I’ve ever seen.
–Brandon Phillips was only 1-3, but the one hit was a blast, a two-run homer that accounted for all the runs in the game. He also took another walk! That’s five walks in five games for the notoriously free-swinging Phillips (Edwin Encarnacion leads the Reds with 7). Considering that BP only had 39 walks all last season, he’s on a good pace.
NEGATIVES
–It’s a good thing Harang was great, because the offense was terrible again. Two runs a game against the Pirates is pathetic.
–The Pirates turned a triple play that was largely HAVOC-induced.
–Jay Bruce looks largely lost at the plate right now.
–Alex Gonzalez has been horrible offensively (.000 batting average), and sub-par defensively so far this season. He’s killing the Reds.
–Ramon Hernandez is a joke at the plate, as well (.067 BA). Yeah, he’s not this bad, but are you telling me that Ryan Hanigan couldn’t provide more offense, and better defense?
ETC.
–Votto’s double was about two feet from being a home run. He’s good.
–Free Ryan Hanigan!
–On the road now, to Milwaukee, Houston, and Chicago. A winning road trip would be a great sign, after starting 2-3 at home. These are all division rivals, so good play is a must over the next week and a half.