Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL — 10 innings
New York (NL) 2
Cincinnati 3
W: M. Parra (2-3)
L: G. Burke (0-3)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–The Reds have clinched a spot in the post-season. Unfortunately, the Cardinals won, so the Redlegs remain two games back in the NL Central race. Still, the Reds will play at least one game in the playoffs.
–Walkoff win was secured in the tenth when Devin Mesoraco and Derrick Robinson each singled, then Shin-Soo Choo drilled a ball off the left-center field fence. Missed a walkoff homer by a foot, but he isn’t complaining. Neither am I.
–Good start by Johnny Cueto: 7 innings, one earned run on three hits, 99 pitches. Exactly what I had hoped to see. You have to think Cueto is a realistic option to start the wild-card play-in game.
–Choo had three hits and two RBI tonight.
–Joey Votto walked five times tonight, tying a Cincinnati club record. Only two other Reds have ever accomplished that feat. Votto’s line tonight was crazy: 0-0, 1 RBI, 5 walks.
–The bullpen was pretty good again tonight. Specifically, Aroldis Chapman was brilliant in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the side. Sean Marshall was also outstanding in the eighth inning; he entered after Sam LeCure allowed two baserunners, but induced a double play to get the Reds out of the jam.
–Ryan Hanigan had two hits and a run scored.
–Here’s a positive: the Redlegs will be in the post-season for the second consecutive year for the first time since the Big Red Machine in 1975-76.
NEGATIVES
–In the bottom of the ninth, the Reds got Shin-Soo Choo — the winning run — to third base with no outs. Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick, and Todd Frazier weren’t able to get him in. Frazier’s swing on the last pitch of the ninth was laughably bad, but it was classic “throw the bat at the ball” Todd Frazier.
–Ludwick was 0-5, and looked a bit lost at the plate. The Reds need him to get going soon.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Fun, right? Cincinnati just won their 90th game, the third time they’ve done that in four seasons. Of course, I’m not nearly as excited about the Reds clinching a playoff spot as I was in 2010. Which means the Reds are doing something right.
–Dusty Baker used Billy Hamilton to pinch-run with two outs in the eighth inning. Hamilton promptly stole his 13th base of the season. Unfortunately, Chris Heisey couldn’t bring him around to score.
–Votto now has 132 walks on the season. That ties Joe Morgan’s 1975 mark for the club record.
–The Reds need to sign Choo to a contract extension.
–I know, we’re supposed to hate the Pirates, but watching them celebrating in the locker room (as they clinched their first playoff berth since 1992) is pretty darn cool. That was us in 2010.
I thought they’d fade in the race, but they’ve hung in there all year long. Gotta give ’em kudos. And I hope their fans are enjoying it.
–The Reds have won six of their last seven. Can they win enough to win the division? Who knows? I’m just glad the good guys still have a chance.
If we're going to beat up Dusty for always holding weapons in reserve, we cants bash him for trying to win the game in the 8th.
— Chris Garber (@cgarber8) September 24, 2013
Votto is 3rd #Reds to walk 5 times in a game since 1916: Johnny Bench – 7/22/1979 Hughie Critz – 5/28/1926
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) September 24, 2013
Chapman..also freaky. That K was crazy. These guys..plus Votto, and Choo? And Bunting? Greatest Show in MLB.
— Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) September 24, 2013
Billy Hamilton thinks Usain Bolt has "decent speed."
— Redleg Nation (@redlegnation) September 24, 2013