I’m a-goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts a-fallin’.
Rolling Stone magazine ranks “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” as Bob Dylan’s second best song, just behind his one-take masterpiece “Like A Rolling Stone.” I wouldn’t argue that.
Hard Rain has always been at or near the top of my list because it’s a brilliant protest song, outlining Dylan’s grievances with American society as he saw them in 1962. And the evocative images could be Dylan’s single best poetic effort, which is saying something. Dylan himself said it’s a song where every line is the start of a new song. Or maybe I like it for the simple reason that I’m a blue-eyed son. Or because of a few blue-eyed sons that I’ve known.
The song is a call and refrain where the protagonist works through answers to the questions: Where have you been? What have you seen? What did you hear? What did you meet? At the end, he’s asked: And what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
“I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it.”
“But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’.”
If you’re waiting for a profound connection between Hard Rain and the game recap, you’re in for disappointment. The song was on my mind after three straight games with rain delays.
I mean, other than the hard rain the Reds just poured down on the Jolly Roger.
Reds 3, Pirates 2 | FanGraphs Game Data
Early returns on Anthony DeSclafani are in and favorable. DeSclafani, who the Reds acquired in the offseason Mat Latos trade, worked the first three innings without giving up a hit.
In the fourth inning, facing the heart of the Pirates lineup for the second time (“Where the rubber meets the road” – cliché provided by the Cowboy), DeSclafani surrendered a lead-off single and stolen base to Gregory Polanco then calmly worked his way through the 3-4-5 spots of the Pirates order. Pop-out. Strikeout swinging. Pop-out. DeSclafani had given up one hit, one walk and struck out four in four innings.
Then the rain came.  And a one-hour plus rain delay.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates scratched out a run off of two hits, a hit batter and a funny ground ball that created just enough indecision in Zack Cozart that the fleet Polanco was able to beat it out on a close play. Pedro Alvarez hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth.
DeSclafani finished the game giving up five hits, one walk and striking out six in six innings pitched. That’ll do.
The Reds bullpen of Burke Badenhop, Jumbo Diaz and Aroldis Chapman combined for three shutout innings. Diaz struck out three and Chapman recorded two.
Joseph Daniel Votto hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. Billy Hamilton, who had reached base on fielder’s choice and stolen second, scored ahead of Votto. Skip Schumaker had led off the inning with a single.
SuperTodd Frazier capped off an outstanding series at the plate by leading off the ninth with a long double to the left-center gap. Devin Mesoraco’s topper in front of the shortstop advanced Frazier to third. After the Pirates walked Jay Bruce, Marlon Byrd then lined a ball to right field that Gregory Polanco misplayed, allowing Frazier to score the game-winning run.
A sweep of a division rival. Two one-run wins. A healthy Joey Votto. Check, check and check.
And if you were sensing that these three dramatic wins were a great way to start the season, well you’d be right … as rain.