Cincinnati Reds

Tanner Rahier had two hits in a Dayton Dragons loss on Friday night.

The play of Friday’s game didn’t even go for an out, but the fact that the play on pinch-hitter Julio Borbon’s bunt was even close was amazing. The near-out highlight, of course, was turned in by Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips. Facing Reds right-hander Logan Ondrusek to lead off the seventh, the Cubs’ left-handed hitting ...

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game Joey Votto. 2-4 with a home run and two runs scored. This stopped being funny four seasons ago. Honorable mentions to Zackuum and Beeperino, both 2-4. Ryan Hanigan's three-run home run gave the Reds an insurmountable lead, which is pretty cool if you think about it. Key Plays In the Cubs' half of the second, they pieced together a Valbuena double, Navarro single, Barney sac fly, and Scotty Feldman home run to go up 3-0. Pitcher home run. Dang. The Reds came back in the fourth, though. Votto Molson'd a pilsener, then BP singled. Cubs defensive Cubbiness got him to third, and after a Todd Frazier walk, XP singled in Beep. Hanigan then hit his second slam of the year to put the Reds up 5-3. Broxton, man. Especially with Marshall out, I'm not thrilled with this turn of events. In the 8th inning, a Sweeney double and Valbuena single put the Cubs within one. But fortunately, the heart of the order. In the bottom of the inning, Votto singled and Phillips smacked him home and followed him there. Reds up 7-4 and Chapman struck out the side (though with some baserunners) in the 9th. Source: FanGraphs Other Notes I'm exhausted and didn't get to watch an inning. But I hope you enjoyed yourself. It seemed like a great day for enjoying. Boss tWood vs. Homer Bailey at 4:10 ET tomorrow. We're reaching the end of the third inning (the first third) of the season. Things are going okay, but it's time to get serious and stop pussyfootin' around.

Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle…. FINAL Chicago (NL) 4 Cincinnati 7 W: B. Arroyo (5-4) L: S. Feldman (4-4) S: A. Chapman (11) BOX SCORE POSITIVES –The Cubs took a quick 3-0 lead, and you won’t be surprised to discover that Joey Votto got the Reds going with a fourth-inning homer. On the night, Votto was 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He’s now hit in twelve consecutive games. –Later in that five-run fourth inning, Ryan Hanigan slammed a three-run homer to give the Reds a lead they would not relinquish. –Brandon Phillips put the game away in the eighth with a two-run homer on a 3-2 count, after fouling off five pitches in a row. BP was 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. That’s an 11-game hitting streak for Phillips. –Zack Cozart had two hits. –Bronson Arroyo was not particularly sharp (none of Cincinnati’s four pitchers tonight were very sharp, frankly), but Arroyo does get credit for a “quality start,” whatever that means. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in six innings to collect his fifth win. NEGATIVES –Jonathan Broxton struggled again tonight, giving up a run on two hits in the eighth inning. The run allowed the Cubs to cut the margin to one, but fortunately, Phillips’ homer later that inning gave Cincinnati a little cushion before the Chapmania began. NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS –Fourth straight win for the mighty Redlegs, and twelve wins in fifteen games. Cincinnati is now 12 games over .500. They didn’t reach 12 over for the first time last year until July 15. We’re ahead of schedule, gang! –The Reds have won 18 of 23 against the Cubs dating back to the beginning of last season. –Homer Bailey will face our old friend Travis Wood tomorrow. Source: FanGraphs

The Reds look to continue their winning ways and inch closer to the top of the division by starting a 3-game series with the last place Chicago Cubs.  Now that the Astros are gone from the league and division, perhaps adding that “last place” description is no longer necessary but implied. Bronson Arroyo will take to the mound for the good guys where hopefully he’ll have everything working tonight and spin his mojo.  Arroyo has pitched 14.1 innings over his last 2 starts in which he has not allowed an earned run.  He is 2-0 in those starts.  Let’s add 7 more innings and another win to that total, shall we Redlegs!? Cheer on the Reds to Go and discuss the game here!

Left-hander Sean Marshall went from not being available Wednesday to not being available until June 5. Marshall was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday (retroactive to Tuesday) with a sprained left shoulder. Left-hander Manny Parra was activated from the DL to take Marshall’s roster spot. This is Marshall’s second stint on the DL with ...

There are at least eight TV sets in the Reds clubhouse, Donald Lutz may try to commandeer at least one for Saturday’s Champions League final that for the first time in history features two German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. “I’m definitely going for (Bayern), not for Dortmund,” Lutz said on Friday. “I’ve got ...

An absolutely gorgeous late afternoon in Cincinnati.  Great weather for the Reds batting practice session.  Here are some photos…

The Reds were off Thursday and Todd Frazier didn’t have any plans. He called around to his teammates, found nothing really going on, so what’d he do? He decided to take in a baseball game. Frazier showed up at Moeller’s 17-0 victory over St. Xavier at Lakota West High School on Thursday. “They were in ...

Next Game Chicago Cubs @ Cincinnati Reds Friday, May 24, 2013, 7:10 PM EDT Great American Ball Park Scott Feldman vs Bronson Arroyo Clear. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65. Complete Coverage > That was a fun road trip, eh? The Reds come home to the Cubs with Bronson Arroyo on the hill. Bronson's been historically pretty good against the Chubbies, with a career 2.99 ERA in 26 starts. He also is on a bit of a hot streak, with two scoreless starts in a row, so another one would be just what the doctor ordered. They face Scott Feldman, who curiously enough, has never faced Cincinnati. Weird, right? This is his first year in the NLC, after a few years with the Rangers. Feldman's coming off of 5 quality starts in a row, including a scoreless one last time out, so he won't be a cake walk. With the off day, everyone should be pretty rested. Go Reds! They're my favorite home team! Bullpen Log Reliever 5/19 5/20 5/21 5/22 5/23 5 day totals Aroldis Chapman 0.1, 14p 1.0, 11p 1.0, 18p - 2.1 IP, 43 pitches Jonathan Broxton 0.2, 19p 1.0, 11p - 1.2 IP, 30 pitches Sam LeCure 1.0, 19p 1.0, 18p - 2.0 IP, 37 pitches J.J. Hoover 0.1, 3p 0.1, 3p - 0.2 IP, 6 pitches Logan Ondrusek 1.0, 15p 1.0, 14p - 2.0 IP, 29 pitches Manny Parra 2.0, 25p - 2.0 IP, 25 pitches (AA) Alfredo Simon 1.0, 15p - 1.0 IP, 15 pitches