Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
St. Louis 2
Cincinnati 7
W: M. Latos (14-5)
L: A. Wainwright (15-9)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–The Reds beat up on Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright for the second straight time. What’s up with that?
–Mat Latos pitched his first complete game of the season, allowing just two runs on four hits. He threw exactly 100 pitches and lowered his ERA on the season to 2.98.
–Shin-Soo Choo was 2-5 with his 19th homer, two runs scored, and two RBI.
–Jay Bruce reached base four times, with two walks, a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Joey Votto walked and hit his 21st homer, an opposite-field shot.
–Ryan Ludwick, Zack Cozart, and Todd Frazier all had two hits and drove in a run. Frazier and Ludwick each doubled, and Ludwick also made an excellent defensive play in left field.
–Several Reds sported the high-cuff sock look today. They aren’t stirrups, but they look almost as good. I approve (and I’m sure the clubhouse will rejoice that they have my approval).
NEGATIVES
–None.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Yes, the Reds have had success against Wainwright, but is anyone confident about facing him in the one-game wild card playoff, if that ends up being the matchup?
–Mat Latos is good. If you will remember, before the season, I predicted he’d win the Cy Young. That’s not going to happen (Clayton Kershaw will win), but Latos has pitched awfully well.
–No, Dusty Baker shouldn’t have used him today, but here’s an interesting note: Aroldis Chapman has pitched precisely one inning in the last twelve days.
–The bats have started working over the last four weeks. If the offense can spark, this team could go on a run. Unfortunately, that has happened only rarely this season, and I wouldn’t bet the ranch on it happening now. (optimism) But imagine if it did! (/optimism)
–As I said yesterday, if Cincinnati could somehow win three of these four games against the Cards, it would go a long way toward curing many of the ills that this club has been suffering lately. I’m still not confident that they can do that, but today was a great start.
It’ll be up to Homer Bailey tomorrow to ensure at least a split of the series.