Game 103: Back To Our Winning Ways

Offense Overcomes Bailey's Dud, Reds Start New Streak

San Diego  6 10 1
Cincinnati   7  9  1

By Ryan  Bramwell

Well, that was closer than it needed to be, huh?  I thought the previous game was bad when gave up five in an inning.  We gave up six in the 4th inning tonight after leading by six.  Poor.  Luckily, a terrific bullpen and a guy named Brandon Phillips came to the rescue and got the Redlegs back on the smiling side of the scoreboard.  Here's what you need to know:

• Homer Bailey pulled a Mike Leake.  So you should already know what that means if you watched the previous game.  Bailey gave up six runs in the 4th inning after a solid first three frames.  It was awful.
• The bullpen was tremendous.  LeCure, Marshall and Chapman combined for five and a third and gave up ZERO runs on ONE hit.  Wow.  Over five innings?  Yes, over five innings.  One hit?  Yeah, and no runs.  Simply, wow.
• Ludwick reached base three times and bombed another homer.  A three-run shot that scored three runs.  He is playing out of his mind right now.
• Todd Frazier hit a two-run bomb, his 12th on the year.
• Bruce and Rolen both reached twice with a single and walk apiece.
• Brandon Phillips hit the go-ahead and eventual winning run in the bottom of the 7th when he tagged a homer into left.  It was his 13th on the year and it was huge for our boys.
• Xavier Paul came in to pinch-hit in the 9th and was able to work the count and pound out another hit.  He then stole second base.  If you haven't been impressed by this guy, then I think you are confusing him with Miguel Cairo or something.  Paul has been outstanding since being acquired and called up by the Reds.  He's batting .538 (seven hits in 13 at-bats, two RBI, two SB, two doubles, and a walk).
• Did I mention that the bullpen was good?  LeCure went 2.1 innings and gave up a hit while striking out a pair and walking one.  Marshall went two full innings as well and stuck out a pair while not giving up anything.  Then Chapman came on in the 9th and earned his 22nd save by doing his thing.

Guess what?  We are back to 21 games over .500 and have a three game lead in the Central.  For the second night in a row our starting pitching faltered early, but this time we still managed.  Occasionally, even great teams will hit bumps in the road like this.  Just to win a game that was started so poorly is tremendous really.  I don't see these kind of starts happening frequently.  We've had a ridiculously good pitching staff all year and a couple of the guys just happened to stink it up in the same series.  It'll be ok.  Let's go for two-in-a-row and then some, boys!