Positives

–For the first time in five games, the Cincinnati bullpen did not surrender a lead.

–Ramon Santiago reached base three times. Logan Ondrusek and JJ Hoover pitched scoreless innings of relief. No, really…all those things happened tonight in an actual Major League Baseball game.

–The Reds scored all three of their runs in the ninth, which I suppose we can take to mean that they didn’t quit. Hurrah for professional baseball players!

Negatives

–The Reds stink.

–Johnny Cueto had one of his rare sub-par outings tonight, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. He can’t be great every time, I suppose. We shall forgive Cueto.

–Carlos Contreras allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. At some point, you have to concede that this guy might not be a capable big league reliever. Then again, JJ Hoover and Logan Ondrusek are still drawing big league salaries, so what do I know?

Not so random thoughts….

–Your Cincinnati Reds have lost five in a row, 8 of their last 9, ten of their last twelve. Ugh.

–Jay Bruce hit second, which is an interesting novelty. He also had two hits and a walk, which is good.

–Heck, after facing a 7-0 deficit entering the ninth inning, the Reds actually brought the tying run to the plate. They still lost, but that seems like something.

–The Reds just lost three of four to the worst team in baseball, then got swept by St. Louis. I remember a bunch of disastrous west coast swings over the years, but this dumpster fire of a road trip has been as bad as anything I remember in the last decade…

–…and yet, I’ll be heading over to the stadium this weekend to watch these jokers play the Braves. Go Reds?

Milton was unhappy with Cincinnati’s performance tonight.