Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 13
St. Louis 4
W: S. LeCure (1-0)
L: M. Boggs (0-1)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–I just love spoiling the Cardinals’ home opener.
–The Reds were battling all day, drawing to within one run of the Cards on three different occasion, but trailing all the way. Then, in the eighth, the Reds tied up the game on a Xavier Paul RBI single. In the ninth, the Reds blew the game open, scoring nine runs on six hits, five walks, and an error.
–Jay Bruce reached base five times: 4-5 with two runs, an RBI, and a walk. Brandon Phillips had a homer and a double in the ninth that scored the go-ahead run. He had two runs, two RBI, and a walk.
–Mat Latos is having the first solid April of his big league career. Today, ol’ One-T threw six innings of one-run baseball, allowing four hits and one walk. He struck out five, and lowered his ERA to 2.84 on the season.
–The bullpen was outstanding. Alfredo Simon, Sam LeCure, and JJ Hoover delivered three no-hit innings of relief.
–Chris Heisey had two doubles and an RBI. Shin-Soo Choo (more on him later) had two hits including a double, a walk, scored two runs, and drove in three. The guy can flat hit.
NEGATIVES
–We were all afraid that Shin-Soo Choo would have a difficult time adjusting to playing a new position this season. Well, he botched two fly balls in center field tonight. It was an ugly performance from a guy who is still learning the intricacies of playing center.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Well, this has just been a crazy season so far. Five wins in seven games, with two extra-innings losses.
–Cincinnati has scored 51 runs in seven games this year. That’ll do, Reds. That’ll do.
–I agree with St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia: “It doesn’t really matter how we lose the game, stuff happens,” Garcia said. “You know what, they’ve got a good thing going on.”
–Thank you, Mitchell Boggs.
–The difference between Choo and Drew Stubbs defensively in CF is very, very clear. Also clear is the difference between the two at the plate. I’m fine with Choo.
–Last Reds center fielder to commit two errors in a game? Deion Sanders on April 28, 1995. Choo is better than Neon Deion (Leon Sandcastle) too.
–An Associated Press writer from St. Louis called the Cardinals the “defending NL Central champions” in his game story. I seem to recall a different team winning the Central last year.
–Today’s game was played before the largest regular season crowd in Busch Stadium history. That just makes this win a little bit sweeter, don’t you think?
–Many thanks to Jason Linden for pulling double duty on the Titanic Struggle Recaps while I was out of town last week.
–I like it when the Reds go. “Go Reds,” you know? Well, the Reds went tonight.
–Okay, the Redlegs and the Cardinals get back together tomorrow evening. Bronson Arroyo will face Lance Lynn. Another win would be very nice indeed.