Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle…
FINAL
Cincinnati Reds 8
Pittsburgh Pirates 1
WP: Bailey (4-3, 3.73 ERA)
LP: Morton (2-6, 4.65 ERA)
Boxscore
Video Highlights
PitchFX for Homer Bailey
POSITIVES
• After a nearly two-hour rain delay, the Reds pounded Chuck Morton and the Pirates bullpen, salting the game away with three runs in the seventh inning. The Pirates starter has fashioned his style after Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, who himself went on the DL today and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Bad karma day for Morton.
• The Cardinals lost, so the Reds’ lead in the NL Central is back to 1.5 games. Johnny Cueto leads the Reds tomorrow night in the series rubber match.
• Homer Bailey had an all-around outstanding night. He pitched a complete game, giving up four hits and one walk. He threw 103 pitches, 77 for strikes. He also contributed at the plate, with two hits, an RBI and a sacrifice bunt. Homer now has 8 quality starts in 10 games, 4 in a row. It’s also apparent that Homer and Devin Mesoraco are working well together. Brutal night for the Homer Haters.
• Jay Bruce led the offense, with two doubles, a single and a walk. Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier also had two hits. Devin Mesoraco walked twice and had solid ABs all night.
• One of the Reds announcers (Jeff Brantley) used the phrase “on base percentage” in discussing the Reds lead-off spot.
• The Reds started the game with aggressive base running. In the second inning, Todd Frazier, with great hustle, turned a single into LCF into a double. In the fourth inning, Jay Bruce did the same, then went to third on a passed ball. Frazier stretched a hit to deep LCF into a triple and his aggressiveness was rewarded when the relay throw ended up in one of the Three Rivers.
NEGATIVES
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
• Homer’s next start will kick off the Reds upcoming home-stand, against … the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Top game thread comment (CP): Devin Mesoraco has a 7 game winning streak.