Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Miami 1
Cincinnati 11
W: T. Cingrani (1-0)
L: J. Fernandez (0-1)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Tony Cingrani, in his debut as a starter in the big leagues, threw a pretty good game. Cingrani went five innings, and allowed one run on five hits, striking out eight and walking three. He wasn’t necessarily sharp (102 pitches), but he showed flashes of why the kid has impressed so many over the last couple of years. Congratulations, kid!
–For the second consecutive game, the Reds scored 11 runs. That’ll do, Redlegs. That’ll do.
–Todd Frazier was 2-3 with a homer, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI. The Toddfather is hitting a stout .298/.369/.614 for the season.
–Shin-Soo Choo continued to mash the baseball: two hits, including a double, a walk, two runs scored, one RBI. Choo’s season totals make Frazier’s look poor: .345/.472/.569.
–Zack Cozart had two hits, a walk, and 2 RBI. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce reached base three times; Bruce scored each of those times, as well.
–Good work by the Reds bullpen: four shutout innings by Sam LeCure, JJ Hoover, Alfredo Simon, and Jonathan Broxton (who didn’t look good, but somehow didn’t allow a run).
NEGATIVES
–None.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Cincinnati’s offense has just been crazy good this season. I thought Choo would make a difference, but this is insane. The ol’ Redlegs have now scored 10 or more in a game four times this season. That’s exactly the number of 10-run games they had during 2012. Wow.
–After everyone freaked out because of the losses to Pittsburgh, the Reds have reeled off four wins in a row. As we (and Wooderson) say every April: patience, darlin’.
–The Marlins flat-out stink.
–The Reds have won eight of ten at home, the best home record in the league.
–I love it when the Reds go. Go Reds.
Last #Reds pitcher to strikeout 8+ in his first big league start was Johnny Cueto, who got 10 on 4/3/2008.
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) April 19, 2013
The last #Reds left-handed pitcher to win his first MLB start was Tom Browning (9/9/1984). Cingrani should join him tonight.
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) April 19, 2013