Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Chicago 2
Cincinnati 8
W: M. Leake (5-2)
L: M. Garza (2-5)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Young Mike Leake was the story in this one. It wasn’t exactly his sharpest outing ever, but it was pretty good: eight innings, two earned runs on ten hits allowed. If nothing else, it was exactly what the Reds needed, when they needed it.
Oh yeah, and he had a hit and an RBI, too.
–Jonny Gomes had a big night, going 2-3 with a homer and 4 RBI.
–Jay Bruce had another good evening at the plate, going 3-4 with two doubles, scoring three runs.
–Ryan Hanigan reached base four times, going 2-2 with two walks.
–Bill Bray pitched a scoreless ninth.
NEGATIVES
–None (Sorry, John.)
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–The Chicago Cubs: Good For What Ails You.
–A win like this was exactly what the doctor ordered for a team that was struggling. If Edinson Volquez can pitch well tomorrow, the Reds will have won a couple in a row and everyone will start to feel a little better. It’s gotta start with the pitching, though.
–Paul Janish and Brandon Phillips made a couple of pretty good plays late in the game. Love those guys defensively.
–Really happy for Gomes tonight, but everything remains a struggle for the big guy. Since April 17, he has hit two homers, but both were in wins against the Cubs at Great American Ballpark.
–Mike Leake doesn’t want to go back to the minor leagues, clearly.
–On the season, Bruce is .298/.361/.575, and he now has an eight game hit streak. That’s great. He keeps going and going and going….
–The Cubs have now lost 7 in a row. Let’s make it eight tomorrow, okay?