Let’s review today’s titanic struggle…
Final
Cincinnati 14
Chicago 3
WP: Leake (6-1)
LP: Lilly (3-7)
POSITIVES
– Where do I start? Drew Stubbs went 3-5 with 3 homeruns and 5 RBI. Outstanding work by our #8 hitter in the game!
– The Bat Boy replaced Joey Votto (after being ejected for arguing a called strike 3 call) and had a career high four hits. Soft-J went 4-4 with three singles, a homerun, three runs scored, and three RBI. It did not take long to forget Votto being ejected! Also do not forget that Janish made a stellar play at 3b on a diving play to force a runner at 2b.
– Orlando Cabrera went 3-5 and scored three runs.
– Ramon Hernandez had a two-RBI triple but was injured while running the bases. His replacement, Corky Miller, hit his first homerun of the season later on in the 7th inning.
– Speaking of the 7th inning, the Reds scored 8-runs in the 7th inning in this game. The Reds scored 17 runs in the 7th inning alone against the Cubs in this series. They scored nine on Friday and eight today.
– Brandon Phillips also had a multi-hit game, going 2-6. The Reds had 16 hits in the game and hit 6 7 homeruns.
– Mike Leake looked a little shaky early on, giving up a homerun in the 2nd inning to give the Cubs an early 2-0 lead. But Leake rebounded and pitched 6 solid innings. Leake allowed 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk while striking out 5. He threw only 86 pitches, another positive!
NEGATIVES
-None! I could say the Votto ejection was a negative, but I won’t dwell on that after a solid drubbing of the Cubs!
Not-so-random thoughts
– The Reds start this 11 game road trip with 3 wins out of 4 games in Chicago. I think we all felt a .500 road trip would be a positive heading into the break. But with the Phillies hurting (and hopefully some added vengeance against Charlie Manuel) it would be nice to perhaps go 6-5, if not 7-4 heading to the break! But first, let’s take care of business against the Metropolitans.
– With the solid play of Janish today both with the glove and with the bat, could we see Paul getting more playing time now?  It would be nice to see him twice a week at least. Perhaps a start for Rolen at 3b and one for Cabrera at SS.
– Did anyone else notice the nice throng of Reds fans that gathered around the Reds dugout after the game to congratulate the team on the win? I love shoving it into the Cubs face!
– Either Chad or the Nation needs to get to work on a Drew Stubbs or Paul Janish sombrero picture!
– Congratulations to Arthur Rhodes, Brandon Phillips, and Scott Rolen for being named to the NL All-Star team. Now, Reds fans must get to work and vote Votto in on the final vote!