Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Colorado 5
Cincinnati 7
W: M. Latos (4-2)
L: J. Moyer (2-5)
S: A. Chapman (3)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–It was another day filled with homers. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips each went 2-4 with a homer. Votto scored two, and Phillips drove in three.
–Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier homered, as well. Frazier’s blast was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. It was one of those swings where the batter accidentally lets go of the bat and it goes flying. The bat wasn’t even in Frazier’s hands when it made contact with the ball…yet it landed in the fifth row for a homer. Just bizarre.
–Loved the way Dusty Baker used Aroldis Chapman today. After Jose Arredondo had yet another brain cramp (more on that in a moment), Baker brought in Chapman with runners on the corners to get the last two outs of the eighth. Chapman extricated the Reds from the jam, then returned to get three outs in the ninth as well, for his third save. No, Chapman wasn’t particularly sharp, but that’s precisely the way I’d like to see Chapman used.
–Zack Cozart plays really steady defense. He’s fun to watch.
NEGATIVES
–After the mess he made of things on Friday, Arredondo had another brain cramp today. In the eighth, after walking Eric Young, he allowed Young to steal second by completely ignoring him. Then, after fielding a ball hit back to him, Arredondo completely bollixed what should have been a good opportunity. He caught Young halfway between second and third, but instead of running him back to second and getting the out, Arredondo just threw it to second and Young took off for third, reaching safely.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–The Reds finish up the homestand with a 6-1 record. They are now 7 games above .500 and in first place. Life is good.
–Mat Latos pitched pretty well, going 7 and a third, and allowing only five hits and no walks. Unfortunately, all five of those hits were solo homers.
Kevin Milwood (8/3/99) is the only other pitcher since 1918 to pitch 7+ IP and allowing at least 4 HR as the only base runners. #Reds
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) May 27, 2012
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–The nine total homers today broke the Great American Ballpark record for a single game (it was “Souvenir Baseball Sunday” according to Reds broadcaster — and friend of the Nation — Chris Welsh). The 29 homers hit on the seven-game homestand was also a GAB record. Balls were flyin’ out of the park left and right, mostly to the Reds benefit.
–Latos has won his last four decisions. Jamie Moyer took the loss for Colorado. Moyer had played two full major league seasons by the time Latos was born.
–This is why I urged patience when the Reds were playing so poorly earlier in the season:
#Reds now on a 93-win pace.
— Jason Linden (@JasonLinden) May 27, 2012
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–The Redlegs now take to the road for a six-game trip. The next nine games are against the Pirates and Astros. One would hope that the Reds should be able to extend their lead in the Central during this span, but in baseball, yaneverknow.
Source: FanGraphs