The mighty Redlegs return to action tonight with a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 National League Division Series. Cincinnati can clinch a spot in the NLCS with a victory tonight.
Mr. No-No, Homer Bailey, will take the mound for the Reds. As Greg noted earlier today:
Over his last 7 starts, Homer Bailey has a 1.85 ERA with a 0.74 WHIP, .463 opponent OPS, 1.7 BB/9, 8.9 K/9, & 0.7 HR/9. This includes 3 starts at GABP. Bailey faced the Giants once this year, back on April 26th in GABP against tonight’s starter, Ryan Vogelsong. Bailey was in line for the win after tossing 6.1 IP and allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 6. He threw just 86 pitches, 59 for strikes. It was Sean Marshall’s first blown save of the season, back when he was still the closer, as he allowed a 3-run homerun in the 9th inning to Angel Pagan.
The Giants will counter with Ryan Vogelsong, a 34-year old right-hander who finished up the season with a 14-9 record and a 3.37 ERA. In the second half of the season, however, Vogelsong’s ERA is 4.78.
Here’s your game preview. Go Redlegs.
I like our chances tonight!
8)
Really hope they wrap it up tonight. I like our chances against Vogelsong who has been very pedestrian since the All-Star Break and I believe the Giants have announced Zito as Game 4 starter (if necessary). Lets not rest on this 2-0 lead and end up with a Game 5 vs Matt Cain, handle business tonight.
Any reason why they would want to wait to announce the injury was more serious? Hard to believe the medical staff actually thought it was back spasms for more than a couple of minutes. I’m have no medical knowledge whatsoever, but I knew it was more serious while he was still on the mound.
They survived two months without Votto, we can survive two weeks without Cueto. This team is resilient as hell and they will march forward. I’m still confident.
The Reds just announced the game 4 starter, Todd Frazier!!! 8)
postseason.tv. Its a little raw, but its all i’ve got online.
Cueto hasn’t had an MRI yet.
“We’re debating that,†Lessard said.
What?
I’m not even thinking of Cueto any longer. I believe this will finish him for the season. I like our chances with the big 3!
TBS is saying that Cueto does not have an oblique strain, rather just muscle spasms in the oblique. Not sure what to believe, just hope they can wrap this up tonight.
Go Homer go! Good start.
How long will it take the TBS guys to learn to cut to the smokestacks on an inning ending K?
Answer: Top of the 5th!
Ha!
So fun to watch this team when guys get hot.
Lead off hit! Great start!
The leadoff spot one of strength for the reds!? Can it be?
So I’m supposed to be at the game – had two seats, section 510 (I love sitting in the upper deck down the left field line – love the view of that bridge and the river, full overview of the field…) – and came down with a cold. Sucks sucks sucks…if I didn’t have a PT test this weekend, I’d say screw it, I’ll take trade a playoff game for a quick bought of pneumonia…
Oi, seriously BP??? Come on.
Nice job by Cozart though to work that walk.
As soon as I heard “Phillips trying for third” I wanted to shout “NOOOOO!” I don’t think my coworkers would have appreciated that.
Ludwhacked!
If Bruce gets a hit they may bring down the house.
Bruuuuuuuuuce!!!!
Marty: “As Jay Bruce goes, so go the Reds…”
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, SMASH EM
Demoralize them now with the big fly and its 4-0, heads will droop
You know, I like this Bruce kid, but he just disappears at big moments.
Is it bad that I wish the series wasn’t possibly over after today because I freaking love watching this team play? I don’t want to possibly wait another 5 days to see them play again.
Tough call there but he got a close one his way the pitch before that.
Pitch tracker agrees with Dusty and Scott – that was both low and inside…but still, third strike, gotta defend the plate…
That was a 30 pitch first inning for Vogelsong.
Well, that was just bull$4it. Low and in. My pitcher better get that call too. 👿
Homer should throw every pitch into the low inside corner and get he call. Pretty much unhittable.
Hunter Pence looking more and more like Woody Harrelson every day
Homer feeling like 1 run will be enough.
Wow – nice catch…
I *LOVE* hearing Marty broadcasting with Thom…
Homer dropping the arm slot and it got away
True, but it could have been much worse. I’m happy with the way Homer handled that.
Suddenly, Vogelsong looks good.
The Reds should hit this guy, right?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?pitcher=vogelry01#ajax_result_table::none
Here we go, As Bruce goes so goes the Reds. Get famous
After walking two straight I would have liked to have seen Bruce take a pitch.
Sorry, my link didn’t work!
It’s only the 4th so, don’t say what you shouldn’t say yet.
@preach:
anyplace online to watch the game? don’t think I’ll have a TV today.
http://www.vipboxsports.eu/
Let this walk you.
If we knock Vogelsong out of the game by the 5th, the bullpen will be eaten alive.
Not being negative, but I am ready for Frazier to get some playing time the rest of this game.
That’s a BEAUTIFUL shot from the blimp…wow…
I like the Reds chances! 😀
Big K!!!!!!
I’m listening to the radio – what did Brian Pryce say?
I thought for sure Frazier would be in the lineup. Has anyone heard anything about Frazier being injured. So far so good. C’mon boys lets score a few runs and let the bullpen take it home. Go Reds!!
Homer is really hitting his spots…Hanni barley has to move his glove at all.
I like our chances 😀
Rolen 1-9 is that correct?
Dustys gonna ride that Rolen train till the end buddy. Frazier will have to be late game replacement
g’day nation! Homer…Homer…Homer…
Are we really going to judge someone on 9 at bats?
Homer’s dealing!
Struck out the side. Wooooo! Homer ain’t no Gomer that’s for sure. Go Reds!
Homer and the crowd are electric! Soooooo wish I was there tonight!
The Giants look lost
Jesus now Phillips is hurt
Jeez, we had this guy on the ropes in the first now he’s Cy Young. And to top it off now Phillips is lame. What’s next?
This will be a 2-1 Reds ninth inning victory
Dealing.
Nice to get to their bullpen, while Bailey is still just a MONSTER!
No need to fret, this is the 2012 Cincinnati Reds, if BP is hurt, next man up. This team takes care of bidness no matter what. Go Reds!
Phillips and Votto both playing on 1 leg
The calf didn’t look bad there.
Dang. Good run, you can’t no-hit them all I guess.
Good work, let’s keep Posey leading off.
And our best lead off hitter is coming up now.
BP can do one of two things with that calf muscle, he can rub some Ben Gay on it, or let Gay Ben massage it. Either way should work.
That was no accident.
Wow, that one was really launched.
If I was the Giants I would semi-pitch around Hanigan and go after Stubbs.
or not
Pinch hit for Honer next inning?
Hopefully Stubbs can get on so Homer can bunt
You know, I think now is a good time for a Drew Stubbs home run. So yeah, lets get on that.
Does Bailey hit if we get a base runner?
Sandoval thinks Stubbs can bunt? Ha, Ha 😯 😯
Frazier’s goin deep
Deep 2nd
Cairo is 600 hitter vs Affeldt
Hey guys, did you know that Phillips made a base running mistake in the 1st? Geez, starting to drive me crazy…
Well, it’s the biggest play in the game so I have no problem with them bringing it up.
Dont like that move at all. I will miss homer
44,501 turned out for tonight’s titanic struggle, 44,501.
Marshall getting the calls on the corner with the breaking pitch. 😀
Someones going deep and we will see the Missle
It is time to win this series.
I’ll take that Votto HR now…
I wish
An unlikely hero will win this game for the Reds, that always seems to be the way in playoff games.
I guess we’re the only ones not there
We’re all on the edge of our seats, can’t type
That one hurt…
@Sergeant2: Or Bruce right here.
Ludwick missed two fastballs in the heart of the plate. Bet he wants both of those back.
Hey Bruce…would you please hit a home run? Thanks.
oy vey
That would be sweet if Bruce hits one out off of their best lefty.
The crowd is just begging to explode
The legend of Jay Bruce will be written- hopefully
Well if Ludwick would have hit the ball it would have landed next to the Curiosity Rover. 😀
Man, this game has me as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Playoff baseball is too intense!!!
@Prime: Tell me about it, I can’t stop sucking down bourbons. Had one for every inning since the 5th.
WTF
Putting Chapman in now is the right call. You use him in the 9th in a close game. I have no problem with it.
@AnnapolisHoosier: This exactly. You can’t mess around and let them score a run and put all the pressure on you. I like the move. Playoff Dusty has been calling all the right shots.
No wind up tonight? Straight from the stretch
Time for someone to be a hero 😀
Place your bets now. (no, not you, Pete)
I’m calling a Stubbs walk off home run.
Here we go….
MVP, MVP, MVP! Or not.
That’s about all Hanigan’s got as far as power
Bring Chappy back in for the 10th if we don’t clear the pitcher spot? I say yes.
Ugh, twice my heart has started up thinking a HR was in the making.
Its been like two hours since either team has really squared up a pitch
Lotta fat pitches there for Romo.
Well crud.
I would use Chapman for a second inning because I feel like this is a must win the way the pitching staff is shaping up but we are getting Broxton.
@AnnapolisHoosier: And it’s already not looking good. Dang it.
I would’ve rather have seen Hoover here.
Come on Broxton, we need a double play ball here!
I believe the Giants only have one bench player left
Wonder which Giants pitcher will play right field?
Not looking so good
get Broxton out now
HUGE strikeout! Now we need that double play ball!
Crap. I don’t want to face The Freak again.
They will score against him. Heisey, Phillips, Cozart. Votto wins it with a single.
Ugh, that doesn’t happen very often.
Oh come on! A single puts us down two now!
Hanigan ugh
get out of this
Shit 😥
Unreal. Passed ball cost them. Tough play for Rolen.
Crap!
Now tell me why Frazier can’t play?
Come on, that was a tough play. Hanigan’s passed ball was worse and Broxton gave up two straight singles. Can’t just blame Rolen.
costly passed ball
The passed ball was the killer in that inning. That was a very tough play at 3rd. Doubt Frazier would have made it either
Take a dang pitch Paul.
Like to Votto one mo time
swinging at first pitch out of the zone…c’mon man
Really, why not work a pitcher?
Swinging at first pitch? Really?
Man that looked good off of his bat
Yes Rolen probably should have made the play, Hanigan definitely shouldn’t have let that passed ball happen, and Broxton shouldn’t have given up back to back singles. But Chapman should have still been in the game, he only threw 15 pitches and he could have thrown another inning easily.
Dusty botched it the last inning. Had to walk Arias to load the bases and make either Romo hit or have them burn their last hitter and Romo
Great point
I doubt the weak beat writers will ask. They think Dusty walks on water.
@AnnapolisHoosier: You are totally right…ugh!
Two huge mistakes cost us the sweep, oh well. Great pitching today again.
And the Giants win tonight without an earned run. Ouch!
I don’t think that was a tough loss. If were down 2-1 now, that would be a tough loss.
Tough loss. Bench rolen. Frazier is better.
Phillips baserunning, Hanigan passed ball, weak Rolen play and no hitting nullify great Bailey start.
That was a rough way to lose right there. I honestly would have much rather them beat us 10-0 than the way they did. I guess the good take away is that their offense still isn’t doing much.
@LVW: That is a situation where I think Dusty lacks the guile to do something like that. For example Johnson does something like that and forces the other manager to make a move e.g. the other night when he force Matheny into a pitching change and switched hitters on him. In Dusty’s defense every other move (except possibly using Chapman in the 10th) has been spot on this series.
How about Sam Lecure for tomorrow’s start?
Couldnt agree more about pitching to Arias. Why in the world would you pitch to him? One bench player left for SF and base open. If they pinch hit and score, their closer is gone. That was a disgrace. There are other coaches on the bench; I wonder if anyone suggested it.
Dusty really dropped the ball in the 10th. A manager doesn’t have to do much during the course of a game, but in this case, you ABSOLUTELY have to walk Arias and force Bochy’s hand. He either leaves in Romo to hit, or he pinch hits his LAST position player for him. Doing that would have been a risk as well, given how gimpy Pence looked on the basepaths. At least then you get Romo out of the game for the bottom of the 10th.
Of course, if Phillips doesn’t get out in the first, I fully believe we win this game 2-0. I’m confident that if Homer had a 2 run lead in the third inning, he isn’t quite so careful with Brandon Crawford, and the Giants more than likely don’t score.
The offense was pathetic tonight, which has become par for the course when Homer pitches. Seems like he never gets any run support. ONE hit after the 1st inning. Just pathetic, especially considering who they were facing tonight.
I have a bad feeling about things now. They had Giants on the ground, foot on the throat, and let them back up. San Fran may be down 2-1, but they have all the momentum in the world, knowing they just stole a game they had no business winning.
Take a chill pill peoples, it was highly unlikely the Reds would sweep the Giants. The Reds will take it tommorrow, no problem-mo. Go Reds!! Adios Amigos.
Yeah, I’m not freaking out yet, it was just a tough way to lose.
Watched the press conference, nobody even asked Dusty about walking Arias.
I think people are being way too tough on Phillips. He was being aggressive and got a terrible bounce right back to Posey. I really don’t have a major problem with it.
The rule is always that you don’t make the first or the third out at 3rd base. That’s exactly what he did. You just can’t do it, unless it’s 100% that you will make it.
It was a lucky break. It wasn’t an obvious bad play. I hear what you are saying, but I’m not going to kill him for it.
Yes you never want to make the first out at third, but he got a bad break on the ball bouncing straight back. If it goes anywhere else he’s on third and people are calling it great baserunning. Dusty has no excuse.
@AnnapolisHoosier: One of two things happened: 1) Dusty made the decision NOT to walk Arias 2) Dusty did not think to walk Arias. Either one is inexcusable. Not the best 10th inning showcase for the Reds; Hanigan whiffs on a fastball, Dusty, was well, Dusty and then Scotty botches a grounder. Glad the world saw that.
If the offense doesnt wake up tomorrow then they have the task of beating Matt Cain again, and I know no Reds fan wants that. I have the unshakable feeling that Dusty is putting Leake on the mound tomorrow too… This series just got a lot more interesting than I would have liked
I think they go with Latos
Asking for a sweep against a successful team is a little much, but why didn’t they do it!!!
Get em tomorrow Redlegs.
I just can’t shake the feeling of how awesome it would’ve been when Chapman blew away Sandoval for the last out in the ninth of a 2-1 victory…
Sigh.
Homer Bailey just said Mike Leake is starting tomorrow.
Oh come on people, the loss is not on BP. Get a grip. 1st inning and he’s being aggressive. It was a great throw by Posey.
Dynamite pitching on both sides. Look how the Giants scored their runs. You may not see a game like that again for a long time. How can anyone blame Dusty for a passed ball then an error by Rolen?
My one little beef was with Bruce. After Votto and Ludwick walked, Bruce swung at the first pitch and flied out. Really? After back-to-back walks you swing at the first pitch?