Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Arizona 6
Cincinnati 2
WP: Haren (7-5)
LP: Arroyo (8-7)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–None. Terrible way to begin the homestand.
NEGATIVES
–TOS* (do we need the asterisk any longer?). This is getting really old.
–Bronson Arroyo is just killing me. Another terrible start for him tonight, giving up ten hits and five earned runs in just over five innings pitched. He struck out just two while walking four. A miserable performance, frankly, from someone the Reds are really depending on.
–UPDATE: This is a negative, as well. Reds fans who were at the game tonight should be ashamed of themselves.
ETC.
–Arroyo’s ERA for June: 6.51.
–Someone explain to me, please, why in the name of all that is good and pure is Willy Taveras starting — and leading off! — against a righthander? Not only that, we’re talking about one of the toughest right-handers in the league. The only explanation is that Dusty Baker is completely insane. That’s the only reasonable explanation that I can come up with.
–The Diamondbacks had lost five in a row before tonight, but they got healthy in a hurry against our Redlegs. A good marketing slogan: “Cincinnati: Good For What Ails Ya’!”
–Chris Dickerson had one pinch-hit AB and Paul Janish actually got to play five whole innings tonight. I think Dusty’s just working the young guys into the mix slowly. Very, very slowly. A glacial pace.
–If Arroyo’s struggles are due to the carpal tunnel, get him on the DL. I know how painful it can be, and I can’t imagine pitching with CTS.
–Thom Brennaman doesn’t like it when a player gets a tattoo on his neck.
–Johnny Cueto tomorrow night. Let’s hope for a more enjoyable evening.
*This Offense Stinks.