Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
New York (NL) 8
Cincinnati 6
W: J. Niese (10-8)
L: J. Cueto (6-4)
S: T. Byrdak (1)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Johnny Cueto pitched five innings and gave up no earned runs. Good, right? Well, he gave up six unearned runs. Ugly.
–Joey Votto reached base three times on a walk and two hits, including a two-run HR. Brandon Phillips, Chris Heisey, and Ramon Hernandez each had two hits. Edgar Renteria doubled in two runs.
–After driving to Cincinnati and arriving mid-game, recent AAA call-up Yonder Alonso pinch hit, and promptly drilled the second pitch he saw into the right field corner for a double.
–With one notable exception (see below), the bullpen was very good.
NEGATIVES
–The defense was just terrible. Three errors — Votto, Phillips, Cairo — and the Reds could have been charged with two more. I thought defense was supposed to be a strength of this club?
–Nick Masset stinks lately. Tonight: 0.2 IP, 2 ER on 4 hits and a walk.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Two straight losses, and my head hurts.
–The downside to Cueto’s recent approach is that he is heavily dependent on his defense, and they let him down tonight. Cueto deserved better.
–See you tomorrow.