Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Opening Night: Reds vs. Angels (Game 2/3 - M.Latos/C.Wilson)

Reds Get Revenge For Opening Day Loss; Votto's First Hit in 2013 is Walk Off Single


By Ryan Bramwell

LAA (1-1)  4  9  2
CIN  (1-1)  5  6  1

W: Aroldis Chapman (1-0)
L: Scott Downs (0-1)

Box Score

  • Much better ending than opening day!
  • Mat Latos was awesome, but in the end her was attributed with a no decision: 6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 8 SO
  • Brandon Phillips had his first big moment of 2013 with a 3-run homer in the 4th inning off of C.J. Wilson. 
  • In that same inning, Bruce would double high off the wall (nearly had back-to-back homers), and then Todd Frazier would single Jay in to give Latos and the Reds a 4-0 lead.
  • The Angels would come back as Kendrick homered in the 5th, Callaspo hit a 2-run homer in the 7th, and Trumbo batted a run in on a fielder's choice out in the 8th to tie the ballgame at four runs apiece.
  • Aroldis Chapman had his first taste of adrenaline in the new season and responded gloriously. He did walk a batter, however as the crowd got louder and more supportive, it really did seem as though Chapman channeled some extra energy and he started blowing fastballs by Angels hitters to get through the 9th unscathed.  He threw 15 pitches, ten for strikes, one walk, one strikeout.
  • Then the bottom of the 9th was just beautiful.  It was everything a baseball fan could ask for.  Smallball was in play.  A man was in scoring position. The team's best hitter had a chance to win the game.
    • Shin-Soo Choo drew a walk to start the inning.  Runner on first.
    • Chris Heisey laid down a perfect bunt to move Choo into scoring position at second base. One out. One on, in scoring position.
    • Joey Votto steps in.  He's drawn some walks, but didn't get any hits on Opening Day and so far, none on Opening Night.  But just like that, Votto pulled a ball down the first base that escaped the glove of Albert Pujols and slowly rolled into shallow right field which allowed Choo to round third base and come home to score the winning run in walk-off fashion.
  • Reds win!

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