Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 5
Tampa Bay 0
W: M. Leake (7-4)
L: J. Hellickson (7-7)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–I don’t know what that trip to the minor league accomplished, but Mike Leake has been a different pitcher since returning. Leake tossed six scoreless innings against a good team tonight, surrendering four hits and two walks. Good stuff.
–Brandon Phillips went 4-5 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. Fred Lewis reached base three times from the leadoff spot (two hits and a walk).
–Jonny Gomes received a warm welcome from the Tampa Bay crowd in his return to the Trop for the first time since leaving the Rays. He responded by hitting his 11th homer in the 4th inning.
–Sam LeCure and (St. Petersburg’s own) Nick Masset each surrendered one hit, but didn’t allow a run over the final three innings to secure the victory.
NEGATIVES
–Scott Rolen went 0-5, dropping his season numbers to .258 /.296/.419.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Nice win against a good team. A win in this series will erase a few of the bad feelings that have resulted from Cincinnati’s interleague struggles.
–Gomes’ homer was off one of the overhanging catwalks at The Trop. It was Gomes’ ninth such homer, the most in ballpark history.
–Johnny Cueto goes tomorrow, so the Reds are in good shape to win this series. Keep those fingers crossed.