| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (28-22) |
4 | 11 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (22-26) |
0 | 6 | 2 |
| W: Adam Wainwright (8-2)  L: Mike Leake (2-4) | |||
| Box Score | Play-by-Play | Stats | Depth Chart | FanGraphs Win Probability | |||
The Good
Another terrific pitching performance tonight from Mike Leake, who hung in there for 6 innings, surrendering 2 runs and 7 hits, while collecting 8 Ks and walking 2.
Billy Hamilton made a spectacular diving catch on the warning track reminiscent of a catch I saw Ryan Freel make against Albert Pujols in August of 2006. I was at the game and Freel got several standing ovations from the GABP crowd that night.
J.J. Hoover pitched a strong 8th. He’s now faced 22 batters in his last five appearances without giving up a run and allowing only one hit.
The Bad
Yes. It was Wainwright on the mound. Nevertheless, the first four batters in the lineup went hitless tonight with one walk.
The Ugly
Put the Reds in a close game with the St. Louis Cardinals and eventually they will wet the bed. Sugar coat it any way you want, but this team finds a way to wilt when they see St. Louis take the field. Relievers will melt. Runners will trip. Fundamentals will go out the window. Tonight, Mesoraco threw a ball away and Manny Parra ran Matt Holliday into Zack Cozart before throwing a seed at Zack from 5 feet away, handcuffing the sure-handed shortstop.
Cue up the calliope music.
Not so random thoughts …
Adam Wainwright was masterful tonight and this was not a game the Reds were going to win. Still, instead of finishing strong, they wore the dunce hat with their poor play late in the game.
The club now jumps on a plane and heads west to face the 4th best starting staff in the NL, just behind the Reds with a team ERA of 3.27.
There are 114 games left in the season. Mat Latos looked great today in his first rehab assignment. That’s the best I can do tonight.
The Daily Billy: Again, a brilliant catch by Hamilton in CF tonight. But at the plate, he was simply overwhelmed by Wainwright at the plate.