Game 87: Walkoff Heroics!

Ludwick Deflates Former Team With A Walkoff Homer In Extra Innings

Cardinals   2   8   1
Reds         3   10  1    F/10

By Ryan Bramwell
I'm going to keep this game review short and sweet.  It was a battle all the way trough between these rivals.  The Reds have now taken the first two games in this series and will go for the sweep tonight.  Cincinnati has now won five straight games and are alone at the top of the NL Central once more.

• Mike Leake went 6+ innings but left a couple men on base in the 7th after giving up back-to-back hits and was replaced by Marshall.  When it was all said and done, Leake had allowed two runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out three. 
• Logan Ondrusek was terrible.  Nothing more to add here.
• Bill Bray was called upon to get the final out in the 8th inning as Reds fans collectively held their breath.  Honestly, I was terrified seeing him enter the game in such a crucial situation.  Yet, Bill surprised Reds country by getting a pop out in foul territory along the first base side.
• Aroldis Chapman pitched solidly in the 9th while facing the top of the Cards' lineup.  He walked Furcal, struck out John Jay, struck out Holliday, and Beltran tapped a ball that literally went forward about two inches.  That was just far enough to be a fair ball and Mesoraco scooped it up and tagged Beltran for the final out of the inning.
• Sam LeCure and his mustache were terrific in the 10th.  He downed St. Louis 1-2-3, while getting a pair of strike outs along the way.
• In the bottom of the 10th, things looked hairy at first.  Bruce struck out and looked awful while doing so.  Then former Cardinal Ryan Ludwick stepped into the box.  He got behind in the count 0-2, then proceeded to foul three balls.  He managed to work the count full on three straight balls.  On the 9th pitch of the at-bat Ludwick hammered a slider.  It was a line drive that just barely cleared the left field wall.  Game over.  Reds win.  Thank you, Mr. Ludwick.
• Offensively the Reds had 10 hits.  Bruce had a pair of doubles and an RBI.  Rolen and Phillips both had two singles. Stubbs, Mesoraco, and Leake all had hits as well.  Cozart, although he didn't contribute a hit, did have a very important sacrifice fly RBI for the second night in a row.

The Reds enter tonight a half game up on the Buccos.  Let's get that sweep and show the Cardinals who's boss.