A (very) quick recap before I drift off to sleep. Reds win 3-2. Large crowd that was into the game more than at any game I’ve attended in years.
Bronson Arroyo was brilliant, just toying with hitters as he is wont to do when he is on his game. The crowd gave him a nice ovation when he left in the 8th inning, but he left some work to do.
Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Dusty Baker turned to Arthur Rhodes. Rhodes responded by walking the first batter he faced, loading the bases with no outs. Then the big guy went to work. He got the next hitter to fly to right, and a great throw by Jay Bruce forced the runner at third to hold. Rhodes then struck out the next two hitters and ambled slowly off the field to a huge roar.
I would say that it was louder at GAB during that last Rhodes strikeout and immediately thereafter than I have ever heard a Reds crowd. The Joe Randa Opening Day walkoff HR is a close second, but it was electric in there tonight.
After the game, the 1990 Reds celebration was nice, but there weren’t very many of the 1990 guys there tonight. The Redsfest reunion was much better. The MC Hammer concert was great and hilarious and silly. I enjoyed it. After that, the kids loved the fireworks show, as they always do.
Fun night at the ol’ ball orchard, as Nuxie would have said. Looking forward to tomorrow.