Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 1
Houston 2
W: W. Lopez (6-3)
L: S. Marshall (4-5)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Eight strong innings for Homer Bailey: one run allowed on three hits. Homer struck out nine and walked one. Excellent outing.
–Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen each doubled and walked.
NEGATIVES
–With the game tied, two outs, bottom of the ninth…Wilson Valdez let a routine ground ball go through his legs like a Little Leaguer. Game over. A brilliant outing by Homer wasted.
–The offense was bad, and Sean Marshall enabled Valdez.
–The only reason Valdez was in the game is because Brandon Phillips had been ejected earlier in the game. BP went nuts after the home plate umpire ruled that he didn’t check his swing and refused to allow Phillips to appeal to the first base ump. I don’t ever remember BP getting excited like that.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–The Reds are still 8.5 games up. Keep that in mind. I guess.
–What a gut punch of a loss. Sarcasm always makes us feel better, though:
With all the great things Valdez has contributed to the Reds this year, you just have to cut him some slack.
— Chris Garber (@cgarber8) September 2, 2012
–It happens. The Redlegs get back on the horse tomorrow afternoon.