Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
Final
Chicago 1
Cincinnati 7
WP: Cueto (12-4)
LP: Gorzellany (7-8)
Box Score
POSITIVES
–Bruuuuuuuuce! Jay Bruce hit leadoff tonight, and he responded with a great at-bat in the first inning to draw a walk. That was the lowlight of his night.
In his next three ABs — against three left-handers — Bruce went deep, his first three-homer game in the big leagues. Bruce drove in five runs on the night to tie a career high.
–Johnny Cueto was dealing tonight. Cueto went 8 innings, giving up one run on six hits. Cueto struck out 8 batters, yet didn’t give up a single base on balls. The kid looked like an ace tonight.
–Making his first start, in place of Brandon Phillips at second base, rookie Chris Valaika went 2-4 with his first big league homer. Exciting moment.
–Drew Stubbs had two doubles.
–Sam LeCure struck out two of the three hitters he faced in a perfect ninth inning.
NEGATIVES
–None.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Now that’s the way to start a homestand. The Reds are now 11-3 against the stupid Cubs this season. More importantly, they are 10-3 since the St. Louis debacle a couple of weeks ago.
–Last Cincinnati leadoff hitter to hit three homers? Pete Rose on April 29, 1978.
–Believe!
Jay Bruce