Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 4
Milwaukee 5
W: C. Narveson (6-5)
L: H. Bailey (3-4)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Making his major league debut, Zack Cozart was 1-3, scored a run, and flashed some good leather on defense.
–Miguel Cairo, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Ramon Hernandez had two hits each. Hernandez had 3 RBI, and a homer in the ninth that cut the lead to one.
NEGATIVES
–Homer Bailey pitched great…except for one inning. Unfortunately, that one inning lost the game. It was almost stunning, really. A hit, a four-pitch walk to the opposing pitcher, and a three-run homer. All of a sudden, a Reds lead had turned into a three-run deficit.
–The Reds were caught stealing three times, including a crucial CS in the ninth. Drew Stubbs drew a walk, and the go-ahead run was at the plate…and Stubbs was gunned down trying to steal. Game, set, match.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–I didn’t want to see the Reds win two games in a row, anyway.
–I’m not even frustrated, even though this was an eminently winnable game. I’ve come to expect results like this. Apathy is rapidly setting in, and I can’t believe it.
–Milwaukee’s four-run fifth inning was bizarre. Homer was cruising along before that inning, and he ended a six inning stint with an efficient 87 pitches. But he lost focus in that one inning, and that was that. Why didn’t pitching coach Bryan Price ever set foot outside the dugout to calm Bailey down before he threw the game away?
–Third straight game that Homer has surrendered a three-run homerun.
–Jay Bruce didn’t have a hit, but he walked and hit the ball very, very hard twice.
–I really wish the All-Star break would hurry and get here.