Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 5
Atlanta 1
W: M. Leake (4-2)
L: T. Hanson (5-4)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Mike Leake returned from the minors, and he announced his return in style. By which I mean, Leake was rocking the high-cuff red stirrups and looked simply fantastic. Every player needs to wear their socks like that.
Leake also pitched very well, giving up one run over six innings and hitting a double at the plate.
–Scott Rolen reached base three times, going 2-4 with a walk. Ramon Hernandez hit a two-run homer. Fred Lewis doubled, walked, and drove in a run (and made a very nice play in left field). Brandon Phillips went 1-3 and walked twice.
–Chris Heisey got a pinch-hit, stayed in the game and got another hit. I love the Heisey/Lewis left field team.
–Paul Janish went 0-4 again, but he laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt to score Lewis.
–The bullpen — Ondrusek, Bray, Masset, and Cordero — shut down the opposition again over three innings.
NEGATIVES
–Drew Stubbs went 0-6 with four strikeouts. Ugh.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–That was as good a game as the Reds have played since the big Cardinals series a couple of weeks ago. Nice to see these Reds return.
–Also nice to see the Reds beat a good pitcher. Yes, the Reds have been playing terribly, but they’ve hit the ball pretty well against Tommy Hanson and Roy Halladay in the last few days. That’s something.
–I get the feeling that Mike Leake doesn’t want to go back to the minor leagues.
–Are you feeling better tonight? I am.
–Leake’s win tonight was the first for a Reds starter since May 16. With Homer Bailey on the DL and Edinson Volquez missing in action, Leake has his opportunity…and the Reds really, really need him right now.
–Hey, the Reds are in the position to win a series again! Nice!