Game 93: It Was All About Homers Last Night

Bailey Throws Another Gem. Reds Go Deep Three Times To Secure Win.

Milwaukee   1   6   1
Cincinnati     3   8   0

By Ryan Bramwell

The Reds won again last night and have now won nine of their last 11 games in all.  Homer Bailey threw another terrific game and secured his fourth consecutive winning decision on the mound.  The Reds are now a season high 13 games over the .500 mark and managed to stay a half game ahead of the Pirates in the Central.  Here is the game wrap-up:

• Homer Bailey.  Like we said after his last start against the Cardinals, "he has grown up".  Homer pitched eight innings and gave up only one run on six hits.  But the most impressive stat was his strikeout/walk number: Homer struck out ten Brewers and walk none of them.  He was brilliant.  14 of his 19 starts this season have been quality starts.  He has never had more than nine wins in a season in his young career, but it looks like he will certainly break into double digits in the win column this year.  Possibly as soon as the next time he takes the hill for Cincinnati.
• Jay Bruce seemed to break out his slump in convincing fashion.  He hit his 23rd double of the year and followed that up with his 19th long-ball of the season.  Jay also took the only base on balls for either team in the entire game.
• Zack Cozart was moved back to 2-hole duties in the lineup and it really seemed to work.  Cozy was only short a triple of completing the cycle in last night's game.  That's right.  He singled, hit his 22nd double, and hit his 10th round tripper of the year for a solid 3-hit ballgame.
• Not to be outdone, old man Scotty Rolen joined Cozy and Bruce in the double/homer day parade as well.  Scotty showed some power tonight which is tremendous to see from the veteran.  The two hits were his eighth double and fourth home run on the injury-riddled season.
• Devin Mesorace seems to be coming around offensively as he donated a hit in his eighth consecutive ballgame.
• Aroldis Chapman.  Wow.  He picked up his 16th save convincingly.  He struck out a pair of batters and set the Brew Crew lineup down 1-2-3 in the 9th inning.  Of the last 31 outs recorded by The Cuban Missile, 25 of them have been via the strikeout.  That is simply unheard of and flat out ludicrous.  Creating a perfect specimen in a video game probably couldn't match those numbers even if the user was depending on cheats and glitches.  I cannot stress this enough, people: Aroldis Chapman is having the most dominant season EVER by a relief pitcher.  Ever.  Gossage, Eckersely, and even that incredible season from Gagne.  None of them were as incredible of a force or dominant a figure as Aroldis Chapman.  And that's not bias.  That's just statistics, folks.

The Reds will host game two of the three-game set against the Brewers today at good ol' Great American Ballpark.  The first pitch should take place at 7:10pm ET and will feature rocker Bronson Arroyo (4-6, 4.03) against Yovani Gallardo (8-6, 3.59).  Let's go Redlegs!  I have almost forgotten all about this Votto character thanks to all the winning and whatnot.