Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL — 13 innings
Cincinnati 4
Chicago (NL) 2
W: A. Chapman (4-1)
L: J. Grabow (3-1)
S: F. Cordero (31)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Mike Leake was brilliant tonight, but not…quite…brilliant…enough. In a nine-inning performance, Leake gave up just three hits and two runs, striking out six and walking none. He threw just 91 pitches.
Unfortunately, the Reds were leading 2-0 going into the bottom of the ninth, and Leake chose that time to surrender two of those hits. One was a pathetic dribbler down the third base line for an infield single. The other — with Leake just one strike away from a two-hit shutout — was a deep homer to right that tied the game.
Leake deserved better, but it was an incredible performance.
–Dave Sappelt went 3-5 with a walk and two doubles. His last double came in the 13th, whereupon Joey Votto (two doubles, two runs, two RBI) promptly doubled to score the winning run.
–Jay Bruce and Miguel Cairo each reached base three times, with two hits and a walk.
–With the exception of Nick Masset and Jose Arredondo, the relief corps was perfect tonight.
NEGATIVES
–None, really. Yeah, the Reds should have won it in regulation, but you can’t blame Leake. Can’t blame Dusty, either. Leake was cruising, and had only thrown 77 pitches going into the ninth.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–That could have been a really depressing loss, but fortunately, Cincinnati escaped with a victory. It’s just too bad Leake couldn’t get the win. He was cruising until that homer.
–Votto reached the 90 RBI mark tonight.
–Johnny Cueto and his majors-leading ERA will try to lead the Reds to a series victory tomorrow evening.