Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL — 10 innings
Houston 2
Cincinnati 0
WP: Lyon (4-1)
LP: Owings (3-1)
S: Lindstrom (11)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Mike Leake continues to amaze as a rookie. The young guy didn’t have great command today, but he still pitched six innings, giving up seven hits and no runs. Leake’s ERA is now down to 2.45, and he has had 9 quality starts in 10 outings as a professional. That’s just unbelievable.
–Brandon Phillips went 3-4 with a walk and a double. BP has nudged his OPS over 800, and when you combine his always-superb defense, he’s quietly having an outstanding season.
–Fisher, Rhodes, Masset, and Cordero all pitched effectively out of the bullpen.
NEGATIVES
–Unfortunately for Leake, he got Harangued — i.e., no run support.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Well, as the man says, you can’t win them all. Still, the Reds have won another series, and they finished up this homestand with a fantastic 5-2 record.
–Chris Dickerson was in the television booth for the second straight day, and he is a billion times better, as a broadcaster, than either Paul Keels or Jeff Brantley. Smart, funny, and likable. CD is going to make a great color commentator one of these days.
–The Reds now possess a one-game lead in the NL Central. A big series with second-place St. Louis begins tomorrow, at Busch Stadium. Are you ready?