Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Chicago 4
Cincinnati 3
WP: Zambrano (1-1)
LP: Rhodes (0-1)
S: Marmol (2)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Okay, positives. Well, Chris Dickerson had two hits, including a double. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer.
–Nice start for Aaron Harang. Seven innings, three runs on four hits. He struck out seven and walked none. I’ll take that from him every time, even though the three homers just killed him.
–Clutch hitter Ryan Hanigan knocked in a run, and threw out yet another runner who was attempting to steal. When are other teams going to learn that you do not run on Ryan Hanigan?
NEGATIVES
–TOS*
–Juan Francisco struck out four times in four ABs to earn the Golden Sombrero. At least he didn’t make an error! Oh well, he’ll be headed back to Louisville any minute now.
–Everything else was pretty much a negative. Arthur Rhodes gave up the run that lost the game, but what was Dusty Baker thinking when he ran Rhodes out there against three straight right-handed hitters? Bizarre.
ETC.
–I’m glad we lost Wladimir Balentien, just so the Reds could keep Juan Francisco on the roster.
—As noted in the game thread, the Reds have only 9 BB on the season and have a sub-.300 team OBP. They won the only game they had more than 2 BB. I can’t believe this team’s collective patience has gotten worse. That’s the influence of Dusty Baker at work, folks.
–Rubber game of the series tomorrow. We’ll get our first look at Mike Leake. I’m looking forward to that.
*This Offense Stinks