Game 20: Reds vs. Cubs (Game 1/3 - M.Leake/T.Wood)

Reds Find Luck in the 13th Once More as Rival Cubs Blow Lead in Extras

By Ryan Bramwell

CHC (5-13) 4 11 0
CIN (12-8)  5  9  3  F/13

W: Alfred Simon (2-1)
L: Michael Bowden (0-1)

Box Score

• Mike Leake: 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 SO, 108 pitches
• Leake put together his second straight solid start as he had to battle his former rotation-mate in left-hander Travis Wood of the Chicago Cubs. 
• Wood was nearly untouchable for the first six frames allowing only three hits.  I miss that guy.  Glad to see he is doing well and I am happy he plays in our division where I can see him pitch more often.
• Leake's ERA is down to 3.81 and has pitched brilliantly over the last 14 innings.  His WHIP is still 1.35, but that can be attributed to those first two starts:
• Leake - Starts #1 & 2: 12 IP, 9 ER, 16 H, 6 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR 
• 6.75 ERA/1.833 WHIP
• Leake - Starts #3 & 4: 14 IP, 2 ER, 11 H, 2 BB, 12 SO, 1 HR
• 1.29 ERA/.9286 WHIP
• Jay Bruce: 2-for-5, Double and his first HOME RUN of the year. 
• However, the double was probably more importantly, or at least more timely, as it brought home two runs to tie the game in the 13th just after the Cubbies looked to have won. 
• Jables seems to be heating up a bit.
• Cesar Izturis: Had the winning walk-off hit over short-stop into shallow left to score Bruce. 
• Surprised?  I sure as heck was. 
• Izturis is the only position player on the 2013 roster that I can compare to the tragedies of the past (i.e. Wilson Valdez)
• But he did it tonight.  So, all hail Cesar!
• Brandon Phillips: He was O-fer going into the 13th.  He had put balls in play, no strikeouts, no walks, and no hits. 0-for-5.  Then, just like that, he ripped a double to fight field that moved the X-Man to third and suddenly all the pieces were in place for a magical ending to a long night.
• Bullpen: I think they were all used except for maybe Parra...thank goodness.  All were solid, except Simon, who got the win of course.
• Broxton (0.2 IP), Ondrusek (0.1 IP), Chapman (1.0 IP), LeCure (1.2 IP), Hoover (1.1 IP), Simon (1.0 IP - Win)
• Chapman - 9th inning: Struck out the side on 13 pitches; all swinging
• Hoover - 12th inning: Struck out the side; all swinging
• Reds Pitching: 16 strikeouts overall

What a game!