Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL (11 innings)
Cincinnati 10
Florida 8
WP: Owings (2-0)
LP: Meyer (0-1)
S: Cordero (4)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–A lot of positives from tonight’s game. Let’s start with Micah Owings. With the Reds reeling from a bullpen meltdown, Owings came in and was absolutely dominant, shutting down the Marlins at a time when it seemed inevitable that Florida was going to come back to win. Two great innings for the big guy; I don’t know if it’s the presence of pitching coach Bryan Price, but Owings has been a different pitcher early this season.
–The bats came out to play tonight! Brandon Phillips finally got some hits to fall, going 4-6 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI.
–Joey Votto had two doubles, went 3-5, and had the RBI that ultimately won the game for the good guys. When you need Joey Votto, he’s there. Love having this guy around.
–It looked like a no-doubt Jonny Gomes sombrero night early, as Gomes launched his second homer to give the Reds a 3-0 lead. On the day, he was 2-3 with 4 RBI. Who doesn’t love Jonny Gomes?
–Ryan Hanigan continued to make his case for more playing time (didn’t we have this same conversation 365 days ago?). Hanigan went 2-4 with a 3-run homer, and his hit in the 11th led directly to the winning run (Chris Dickerson pinch-ran for Hanigan, and scored on Votto’s single to put the Reds up 9-8).
–Arthur Rhodes and CoCo did what they do: get people out. It’s a nice feeling to be comfortable when those guys enter the game. They just keep doing their jobs and doing them well.
NEGATIVES
–The Reds blew leads of 6-2 and 8-5. This game shouldn’t have been so difficult to win.
–Bronson Arroyo gave up 5 runs in 6 innings. Not a great start, which is unfortunate, because he could’ve easily earned a victory tonight. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
–Logan Ondrusek appears to be on the fast track back to Louisville. Ondrusek couldn’t even get through one inning, giving up 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning, on four hits and a walk. This blowup came at a time when the Reds were up 8-5 entering the 8th inning; in other words, Ondrusek gagged all over it and made the Reds’ task that much more difficult. His ERA is now 16.20.
ETC.
–Two straight extra-inning wins, five wins in six games, two games over .500. This team has been largely maddening — especially in the wins, it seems — but they have been fun to watch. Never a dull moment.
–If someone can explain why the Reds just gave away Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu to the Marlins, I’d like to hear it. Couldn’t those guys help the Reds this year? The Reds basically gave them away for nothing, especially Cantu.
–Reds starters don’t have a win all season long. That’s amazing to me.
–Tomorrow, Homer Bailey leads the charge as the Reds look to secure a win in this series. I, for one, can’t wait.
–He was Vottomatic tonight!
