Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 9
St. Louis 3
WP: Cueto (5-3)
LP: Lohse (4-4)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Smilin’ side of the scoreboard! The Reds secured no worse than a split in St. Louis. That’s something.
–It was Laynce Nix night in St. Looie. Two homers, both very important, four RBI, and a great defensive play in left field (which is nice, after he botched one last night). Nix was a man possessed tonight. On the season, he has an OPS of 933. Me like.
–This just in: Johnny Cueto is good.
–Nix wasn’t the only star tonight. Brandon Phillips isn’t content with being RN’s Player of the Month for May. He wants the June award, as well. Tonight, BP had three hits, including a homer, a double, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.
–Ryan Hanigan had two hits, including a double. This is a recording. I love an OBP of .416 from your backup catcher.
NEGATIVES
–Jay Bruce is just bad right now. A lot of you are pushing for Bruce to get a day off. I’d be hesitant to do that, since the Reds have so many bats out of the lineup now, but Bruce isn’t doing us any good at all at this point. Maybe he needs a mental break, if nothing else.
–Only other negative was Carlos Fisher’s rough performance in the ninth inning. Fortunately, the game was over by that point.
ETC.
–The umpires blew at least three easy calls tonight. I’m starting to think MLB umps are as incompetent as NBA referees.
–It is a complete joke that the Reds haven’t placed Willy Taveras on the disabled list. With Taveras (hamstring) and Wilkin Castillo (lack of talent) both unable to play, the Reds are seriously short-handed right now. Makes you feel sorry for Dusty Baker. (More on this later.)
—Fortunately, Danny Graves wasn’t in the building tonight.
–What about a good outing by Aaron Harang tomorrow to give the Reds 3 out of 4 in this series? I could handle that. So could Jonny Gomes:
