Read about it here if you didn't already break your monitors watching.
The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Johnny Cueto was masterful yet again today while tossing 7 innings of 2 ER, 9 K, 3 BB ball, and he's picked up right where his healthy lat/side/scapula left off in the 2012 season. Cueto allowed a 2-run HR for the only blemish of his day, but he otherwise controlled the zone and the batters he faced in thorough ace fashion, and for that he earns his 2nd JNMHSotG of the young season.
Honorable Mentions are due to: Tucker Barnhart, who picked up his first career Major League hit as part of a 2 for 4 day; Brandon Phillips, who hit his 1st HR of the year, a then go-ahead blast in the 8th; Sam LeCure, who tossed a perfect 8th inning in his first appearance of the season; and Ryan Ludwick, who hit his first HR of the season for his only hit of the day.
Key Plays
- Both Cueto and Dillon Gee shut down their opposition early, but the Reds broke the seal first in the Top of the 5th when Ryan Ludwick took the offering from Gee and whizzed a solo dinger just inside the LF foul pole. Reds led, 1-0.
- The Mets struck back in the Bottom of the 6th off Cueto. Daniel Murphy led off with a single but was out at 2B on a ground ball fielder's choice hit into by David Wright. Curtis Granderson then followed by launching the first honker of his Mets career into the seats in RF. Reds trailed, 2-1.
- Cueto departed in favor of pinch hitter Chris Heisey in the Top of the 8th, and Heisey responded by doubling to RF. Roger Bernadina nobly sacrificed to move Heisey to 3B, but that mattered not as Phillips took an elevated fastball from Gee that caught a bit too much of the plate and smashed it over the LF fence. Reds led, 3-2.
- The bed was messed in the Bottom of the 9th. J.J. Hoover was brought on for the save opportunity, and despite the Mets attempts to give the team outs twice through sacrifice bunts, no outs were actually recorded. Hoover walked Juan Lagares to lead off, and when Anthony Recker attempted to bunt him over, Joey Votto threw to 2B to get the lead runner. Lagares was initially called out, but replay overturned the call, and when Ruben Tejada came to bat and attempted to bunt the runners over again, he, too, was walked to load the bases. Hoover then hung a breaking ball to PH Ike Davis, who destroyed it for a walk-off grand slam. Reds lose, 6-3.
Source: FanGraphs
- Baseball sucks sometimes. This was one of those times.
- That feeling in your stomach? It's what having $20 million worth of bullpen arms on the DL feels like.
- The Reds have started the season 1-4, their worst start to a campaign in 11 years.
- After five games, the Cincinnati Reds have still yet to have a hit from the leadoff spot in the order.
- Speaking of which, Billy Hamilton was a late scratch from today's lineup. When he attempted to steal 2B in Friday evening's affair, he jammed the middle finger on his left hand, and it was swollen to the point where the Reds thought it wise to let Roger Bernadina get the start today. Hamilton entered the game in CF in the Bottom of the 9th as a defensive replacement for LF Ryan Ludwick (with Bernadina moving over).
- LeCure's mustache still appears to be in preseason form, but his stuff was not. He's mastered the ability to throw at 89-91 mph while maintaining a ton of movement on his pitches, and it's damn nice to see him finally in a game. I'm sure Cornelius will round into shape in no time, too.
- Todd Frazier picked up another hit today, a single in the Top of the 9th. He's had at least one hit in each of the five games this season. #DaddyStrength
- Instant Reaction Tunes.
