Not off the Press: Reds get much-needed win
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Sitting at home on Monday night, since all the high school games were on a rain delay, I had the opportunity to watch the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers face off in the first game of the their three-game series in Miller Park.
(I also watched the White Sox and Yankees play.)
The 9-5 win put the Reds at 12-11 on the season, one day after a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds have won 19 of the last 22 meetings against the "Brew Crew."
On Monday night, the Reds had a six-run third inning en route to their nine total runs, which came on 12 hits. The Reds did commit an error, but the biggest difference for the Reds tonight was … their batting order.
For all the bickering some Reds fans have about the decisions of manager Dusty Baker, one must give him a tip of the cap for the batting order he sent to the plate on Monday at Miller Park.
Jay Bruce went to the No. 2 spot of the order, and Brandon Phillips batted in the clean-up spot right behind Joey Votto. Drew Stubbs, from the lead-off spot, went 3-for-5 with two runs, collecting two base hits in the third inning.
What was the production for the Reds in the 2-4 holes Monday … five hits, two walks, five RBIs and five runs, including Phillips, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. He also walked once.
That production helped move the Reds to 4-0 against the Brewers this season. Remember, the Reds swept the Brewers in the opening series of the season. In those three games, the Reds had three innings where they tallied four runs. On Monday, the Reds had the aforementioned six-run inning in the third.
In post-game comments, Baker said guys on his team came through big time.
"I was glad to see we got Brandon hot (batting) behind Joey, and Jay swung the bat well … Things worked out well."
Yeah, things sure did work out well.
• Pitching
Now, the pitching by Bronson Arroyo was what we've all come to expect from the longest-tenured Red.
Arroyo improved his season record to 3-2 in his fifth start, allowing one earned run (two total) on six hits and two walks, along with four strikeouts. For the year, Arroyo has a 3.64 ERA.
In two road starts this season, Arroyo is 2-0 with 12.1 innings pitched. He's allowed just three runs with one being earned.
The road warrior has allowed no home runs at the away stadium, and walked just two when wearing the gray jersey with Cincinnati stitched across his chest.
• A question
Am I wrong in thinking Chris Heisey deserves more playing time? Maybe sit Jonny Gomes for a day or two, just to see what Heisey can do with more than one at-bat a game on a consistant basis. What could it hurt?
• Final thoughts
Either way you look at it, this was a good win for the Reds. It wasn't a must-win game, but it was a game that did put them at 2-2 on the six-game road trip with two more games remaining against the Brewers.
On Tuesday, the pitching matchup is scheduled to be Mike Leake (3-0, 4.94 ERA) vs. Marco Estrada (1-0, 3.21 ERA). Both are right-handed pitchers.
Leake, in his last three starts, is 2-0 with a 5.60 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Estrada, in his last three starts, is 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA and nine strikeouts.
In their scouting reports, it says Leake threw 16 first-pitch strikes against the 26 batters he faced in his last start on Thursday against Arizona. Estrada last pitched eight days ago, but inconsistent work has not been a problem for him so far this season.
This should make for an interesting game on Tuesday.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of the Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
(I also watched the White Sox and Yankees play.)
The 9-5 win put the Reds at 12-11 on the season, one day after a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds have won 19 of the last 22 meetings against the "Brew Crew."
On Monday night, the Reds had a six-run third inning en route to their nine total runs, which came on 12 hits. The Reds did commit an error, but the biggest difference for the Reds tonight was … their batting order.
For all the bickering some Reds fans have about the decisions of manager Dusty Baker, one must give him a tip of the cap for the batting order he sent to the plate on Monday at Miller Park.
Jay Bruce went to the No. 2 spot of the order, and Brandon Phillips batted in the clean-up spot right behind Joey Votto. Drew Stubbs, from the lead-off spot, went 3-for-5 with two runs, collecting two base hits in the third inning.
What was the production for the Reds in the 2-4 holes Monday … five hits, two walks, five RBIs and five runs, including Phillips, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. He also walked once.
That production helped move the Reds to 4-0 against the Brewers this season. Remember, the Reds swept the Brewers in the opening series of the season. In those three games, the Reds had three innings where they tallied four runs. On Monday, the Reds had the aforementioned six-run inning in the third.
In post-game comments, Baker said guys on his team came through big time.
"I was glad to see we got Brandon hot (batting) behind Joey, and Jay swung the bat well … Things worked out well."
Yeah, things sure did work out well.
• Pitching
Now, the pitching by Bronson Arroyo was what we've all come to expect from the longest-tenured Red.
Arroyo improved his season record to 3-2 in his fifth start, allowing one earned run (two total) on six hits and two walks, along with four strikeouts. For the year, Arroyo has a 3.64 ERA.
In two road starts this season, Arroyo is 2-0 with 12.1 innings pitched. He's allowed just three runs with one being earned.
The road warrior has allowed no home runs at the away stadium, and walked just two when wearing the gray jersey with Cincinnati stitched across his chest.
• A question
Am I wrong in thinking Chris Heisey deserves more playing time? Maybe sit Jonny Gomes for a day or two, just to see what Heisey can do with more than one at-bat a game on a consistant basis. What could it hurt?
• Final thoughts
Either way you look at it, this was a good win for the Reds. It wasn't a must-win game, but it was a game that did put them at 2-2 on the six-game road trip with two more games remaining against the Brewers.
On Tuesday, the pitching matchup is scheduled to be Mike Leake (3-0, 4.94 ERA) vs. Marco Estrada (1-0, 3.21 ERA). Both are right-handed pitchers.
Leake, in his last three starts, is 2-0 with a 5.60 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Estrada, in his last three starts, is 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA and nine strikeouts.
In their scouting reports, it says Leake threw 16 first-pitch strikes against the 26 batters he faced in his last start on Thursday against Arizona. Estrada last pitched eight days ago, but inconsistent work has not been a problem for him so far this season.
This should make for an interesting game on Tuesday.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of the Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]