Bruce, Frazier, Mesoraco blast Cardinals

The Reds put on a good show for the national television audience, snapping their six-game losing streak. Their season record against the Cardinals was 7-12.

Jay Bruce hit his 17th home run of the year, the Reds first hit of the night (which, of course, was the fourth inning). In his next at bat, with two outs in the sixth inning, Bruce slapped an outside pitch into left field knocking in Brandon Phillips with the Reds third run. Phillips had doubled to left field. Late in the game, Bruce blasted #18 to deep right, making it his first two-homer game of the year.

Todd Frazier hit his 27th home run of the year. That ties Frazier for fourth most in the National League. In 2001, Todd Helton hit the fourth most home runs in the NL – 49. Sammy Sosa hit 65 that year. And Sosa was eight behind Barry Bonds.

The Reds broke the game open against the Cardinals bullpen in the eighth inning when Devin Mesoraco smashed a three-run homer to deep left field. Mesoraco knocked in Kristopher Negron and Frazier who had both walked. Walks will haunt. If Mesoraco kept up his pace this year over 620 PA (Johnny Bench averaged 620 PA over ten years), he’d have 35 HR and 112 RBI, good for first or second most in the NL. More at bats for Mes, please.

To be sure, Billy Hamilton has struggled at the plate, but if you’re looking for a positive development, he’s walked 10.5% of his AB since August 8 (once tonight). That’s excellent. Hamilton’s batting average since then is just .200 but the walks boost his OBP to .288. Next year, if Hamilton can raise his average and keep the walk rate up, he could sustain an OBP well above league average.

Negron made three strong defensive plays at 3B. Seems like I write that every night he plays there. He also walked twice and stole his fifth base of the year, with zero CS.

Alfredo Simon, Sam LeCure, Jumbo Diaz and Aroldis Chapman combined to limit St. Louis to two runs.

22-year-old Yorman Rodriguez started in LF. He struck out three times and walked once.