Heisey, Cueto, Negron lead Reds to win

Psst … the Cincinnati Reds won a 1-run game.

The Reds were held hitless in the first three innings of each game this series. If that feels vaguely familiar, that’s because you may be subconsciously feeling the recent series against Atlanta, where they were also held hitless in the first three innings in all four games. The Reds haven’t scored a run in the first inning since Sunday, Aug 17 in the second game of the Stubbs Revenge double-header. Reds lost that game 10-5.

Billy Hamilton’s seventh-inning stolen base was his 54th of the season, tying the Reds all-time record for rookies held by Bob Bescher in 1909. Safe bet he’ll break it, eh?

In the bottom of the eighth, Kristopher Negron made an amazing, impossible over-the-head full-out diving catch (video) on Ike Davis. It was a big moment, there were two outs and runners on second and third. It was another play of great effort for Negron this year.

Chris Heisey accounted for all three Reds runs with two homers today, his sixth and seventh (video) of the year. Ramon Santiago had a hit and a walk as did Ryan Ludwick.

Johnny Cueto gave up two solo home runs, including one to Josh Harrison (from my high school) on the first pitch of the game. He gave up nine hits and one walk in eight innings. His six strikeouts gave him a career-high 205 for the season. Cueto could have as many as five more starts this season. He went over 200 innings pitched for the year and has an excellent chance of setting a career-high in that category.

Coming into today’s game, Aroldis Chapman had pitched 4.1 innings against the Pirates. Chapman had faced 15 batters and struck out 12. Today, Chapman faced three Pirates and struck out two.

The Reds traded Jonathan Broxton to the Milwaukee Brewers. You can read a discussion of it here.