Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 10
Philadelphia 0
W: B. Arroyo (4-4)
L: K. Kendrick (4-2)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Joey Votto decided to remind everyone today why he is the greatest hitter on the planet. Votto reached base all six times he came to the plate, going 4-4 with two walks, a double, and a ninth-inning two-run homer.
–Bronson Arroyo pitched 7.2 shutout innings. I like Good Bronson.
–Jay Bruce’s hot hitting continued, with a 2-4 day, including a double and an RBI. Ryan Hanigan hit a three-run homer in the second that got the Reds going. (Yes, read that again: Ryan Hanigan hit a homer.)
–Shin-Soo Choo reached base three times. Yawn. Donald Lutz went 2-5 with his first major league double, a run scored, and an RBI. Todd Frazier emerged from the worst slump of his young career, going 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI.
–Alfredo Simon finished out the game with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
NEGATIVES
–None whatsoever.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–After having their six-game winning streak snapped yesterday, the Reds got back on the horse in fine fashion this afternoon.
–Votto is hitting .346/.473/.531. I hope every mouth-breather who panicked about Votto during the first month of the season is duly embarrassed.
–Arroyo has won three straight starts against the Phillies in pretty dominating fashion, since last August. On the season, Arroyo is 4-4 with a 3.28 ERA. How’s that for a #4 starter?
–Neftali Soto made his major league debut as a defensive replacement for Votto in the ninth.
–Bruce has hit in nine straight games.
Final: #Reds 10, Phillies 0. WP-Arroyo 4-4. Reds clinch a season series win against the Phils for the first time since 2003. @cincienquirer
— John Fay (@johnfayman) May 18, 2013