Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL — 10 innings
Chicago (NL) 5
Cincinnati 4
W: K. Gregg (1-0)
L: J. Hoover (0-4)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Johnny Cueto pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits.
–Jay Bruce hit his seventh homer. Todd Frazier tripled and walked.
NEGATIVES
–Logan Ondrusek. With the Reds leading 4-1, manager Dusty Baker summoned Ondru the Giant from the bullpen and, boom, the game was tied. Ondrusek allowed three runs on three hits, and only retired two batters.
–JJ Hoover gave up a run in the tenth, taking the loss.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Ugh. This is a game the Reds really should have won.
–Okay, I can live with the decision to bring Ondrusek into the game. Sure, Ondrusek is a marginal major leaguer at best, but if he can’t be trusted in that situation, he has no business being in the bullpen.
What I don’t understand is the next decision. After Ondrusek vomits all over himself and the game, with everything tied up at 4-4, and a tight ballgame in the eighth inning, Dusty brings in … Manny Parra? Really?
When it’s obvious Ondrusek wasn’t on his game (perhaps after the first run allowed), it’s time to consider a real reliever so that the game doesn’t get out of hand. Instead, we got more Ondrusek and a healthy dose of Parra. Ugh.
–Oh well, can’t win ’em all. I guess.