Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Pittsburgh 2
Cincinnati 8
WP: Cueto (5-1)
LP: Morton (1-9)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Johnny Cueto is just locked in. In six innings, Cueto didn’t allow a run and only permitted three hits, while striking out nine. He’s now 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA. That’s just great.
–Jay Bruce had a double and his eighth homer. Scott Rolen also had a homer, his eleventh, to go with a single, a walk, and 3 RBI. The homers were back-to-back jobs in the first inning that really got the Reds rolen*.
–Jonny Gomes was 2-2 with a walk and our man Miguel Cairo was 3-5 with three singles and two runs scored.
NEGATIVES
–None!
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Seven runs after two innings will get it done every time.
–Cueto is doing great, but you will recall that he was doing very well last year until a disastrous start against the Phillies right before All-Star rosters were announced. How Cueto finishes the season will show us how much he has grown up.
—Vote Votto. Joey Votto didn’t play for the second straight game because of a stiff neck, but who cares? Miguel Cairo is clearly a better player**. Vote Cairo!
–Three wins in four games after returning to the Queen City. Now the lowly Astros come to town, and the Reds have a chance to turn this into a special homestand. Tomorrow, it’s the major league debut of Sam LeCure!
–They went back-to-back in the first inning, now they’re back to back in the recap:
Scott Rolen
Jay Bruce
*See what I did there?
**Yes, that’s sarcasm. Settle down.