Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Los Angeles 2
Cincinnati 4
WP: Bailey (4-4)
LP: Billingsley (12-8)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Five wins in a row! The Big Red Machine is back!
–It was The Homer Bailey Show tonight: 8 innings, no runs on 7 hits, 7 strikeouts and one walk. He threw a 96 mph fastball to strike out the last batter he faced. Dominant.
–Jonny Gomes went 3-4 with a homer and 2 RBI. How good has this guy been? (A 949 OPS: not bad.)
–Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips had a couple of hits each. Joey Votto and Wladimir Balentien each doubled.
NEGATIVES
–Nick Masset and Francisco Cordero (again) stunk in the ninth. Fortunately, the Reds were able to score four runs before that, so the victory was safe.
ETC.
–For the first time in, well, ever, Dusty Baker left a starter in the game in a tight spot…and it didn’t come back to bite the Reds. With a 4-0 score, two on and one out in the 8th, Dusty visited the mound and decided to let Bailey face Manny Ramirez. Homer promptly retired Ramirez and Casey Blake to end the threat and preserve the four run lead. That’s nice to see from the young guy.
–On the other hand, Dusty left Bailey in to throw 115 pitches. I’m seriously concerned that Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Bailey are going to be the next Mark Prior/Kerry wood.
–AND…why in the heck is Dusty using CoCo for a fourth consecutive day? He is clearly tired, and has been struggling lately. Are we the only ones who see that?
–Anyone in the front office who thought it was ever a good idea to keep Darnell McDonald on the roster instead of Gomes is clueless. Period.
–Homer has been the winning pitcher in two of the five wins in Cincinnati’s current streak. He’s been wildly inconsistent this season, but when Bailey is good, he’s very good.
–We need a Homer Bailey Sombrero. Until then: Jonny!!!
