Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 7
Chicago 1
WP: Harang (2-2)
LP: Zambrano (1-1)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Joey Votto cannot be stopped. Four hits in five ABs, two doubles, a homer, 2 RBI.
–The good Aaron Harang is back in 2009, and I’m pumped. Seven innings today, 7 hits, no earned runs. He only struck out 2, which is out of character, but he walked only one.
–Another fine outing by the bullpen, namely David Weathers (my hero) and Nick Masset. You absolutely can’t ask for anything more than what Weathers, Arthur Rhodes, and Masset have given you in the first two weeks.
–One of the more positive things of the last couple of days is that the Reds really took advantage of every mistake made by the Cubs.
–Has anyone noticed that Willy Taveras keeps getting on base?
NEGATIVES
–Pitching and defense? That’s what Walt Jocketty wants us to buy, but the Reds aren’t selling it very well. A couple of errors today — one by Edwin Encarnacion and yet another error by Chris Dickerson (yeah, that LF defense is much improved, huh?).
–HAVOC! The Reds are giving up too many outs, as in the botched squeeze play today. A team that has trouble scoring like the Reds just can’t give away outs. The Reds are going to be smarter about creating havoc.
ETC.
–Did the Reds really just go 7-3 on a road trip, winning three straight series against division rivals? Really? And did they do it while getting outscored 37-36? Ain’t baseball wonderful?
–A 9-6 record, and tied for second place in the Central. Tied with the Pirates, who have outscored their opponents by 20 runs. The Reds, on the other hand, have been outscored by 6 runs on the season. That’s the reason some of us, while really enjoying the wins, are concerned that it just can’t last. I hope I’m wrong.
–I was pulling into the driveway after work, listening on the radio, when Votto hit the homer. I went inside and told my wife about the day Votto had just had. She said, “I bet he has a great OPS.”
I love my wife.