Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 6
Arizona 2
WP: Arroyo (13-7)
LP: Hudson (4-2)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Soft-J! Paul Janish had another outstanding night, going 2-4 with a double and a homer, two runs scored, and he even got on base a third time, via error. How can you not love this kid?
–Scott Rolen was 3-4 with a walk and three RBI, and Joey Votto was 2-4 with a walk. Votto made a great play in his last AB, taking second base on a ball to center field that should’ve been a single.
–Bronson Arroyo had a rough start, giving up 2 runs in the first, but he settled down to turn in an outstanding performance. Seven and a third, six hits, two runs, five strikeouts, two walks. Arroyo’s ERA is down to 3.87.
–Arroyo left the game with the tying run in scoring position. Not to worry. Arthur Rhodes is the greatest pitcher in the history of the universe. Two batters, two Ks, inning over.
–CoCo had a clean inning to finish the game. Why can’t he do that when the Reds are ahead by one run?
NEGATIVES
–The Reds would have had another run, and Janish would have had another RBI, but Drew Stubbs missed third on Janish’s double. The D’backs appealed, and the home plate umpire rang him up. At the time, that would have been a very important run. Fortunately, it didn’t come back to bite the good guys.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–That’s exactly the way I hoped the Reds would begin the road trip.
–The Cards lost, so the Reds are in first place in the National League Central, two games ahead of second. Just beautiful.
–Who would have guessed, after last week’s St. Louis debacle, that less than one week later, the Reds would be up by 2 games again?
–Janish has been very good in Orlando Cabrera’s absence; his defense has been brilliant, and his offense has been more than adequate. Unfortunately, with Cabrera’s return imminent, does anyone believe that Janish won’t soon be back in his spot at the end of the bench?
–If Brandon Phillips doesn’t win the Gold Glove, it will be a crime.
–I love Bronson, but I think my favorite player on this Reds team is the backup shortstop. What’s up with that?
