Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 4
Chicago (NL) 3
W: J. Cueto (2-0)
L: R. Lopez (0-1)
S: S. Marshall (3)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Reds win two out of three. Winning any series is always a positive. Winning one against the stupid Cubs just makes it that much sweeter.
–Another good outing for Johnny Cueto, who picked up his second win of the season. Cueto went six and a third, surrendering just one earned run on five hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts.
–Joey Votto was the only Red with more than one hit; Votto reached base four times (2-3, two doubles, two walks, an RBI and a run scored). Ryan Hanigan reached base three times and scored a run (1-3, 2 walks).
–Aroldis Chapman walked his first two hitters of the year (on the radio, Jeff Brantley blamed the weather conditions), but he was pretty good otherwise, getting a huge strikeout on a 99-mph fastball in the 7th with the bases loaded. Sean Marshall picked up the save against his old club. Marshall gave up a leadoff triple in the ninth, but struck out two of the next three to close out the game.
–The Reds walked eight times today. That’s outstanding.
NEGATIVES
–The defense was pretty shoddy, with the Reds making three errors (Cueto, Votto, Willie Harris). Let’s blame the cold, nasty weather, shall we?
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Reds win their first series since the opening series of the year against Miami. We say it every year, but piling up series wins is the key to a successful season. We would have loved to get a sweep of the stupid Cubs, but you gotta take at least two of three.
–Cueto is 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA. Is that good?
–I know everyone thinks the season is over, but the Reds are just two games under .500. With 146 games left to play, I think the ol’ Redlegs can make a comeback.
–Day off tomorrow, then back at it Tuesday as the Reds begin a series at home against the Giants.
Source: FanGraphs