Second Half Rebound Reds Beat Colorado 3-2

Four tough losses in Philadelphia before the All-Star break, did nothing to discourage the Reds.

Dusty Baker told the media at the Thursday workout that the "best is yet to come".

Brandon Phillips came back, all smiles from his All-Star experience.  He didn't get a hit in the Classic but took pride in his "deke" that helped the National League get out of trouble.  He took delight on air when Scott Rolen went from first to third on a single that set up the winning rally.

Sometimes criticized for not always playing hard, Phillips took the reigns and backed up the superb pitching of Bronson Arroyo.

He led the game off with a single.  Phillips then doubled to led off the third when Colorado catcher, Miguel Olivo tried to pick him off after a missed bunt by Orlando Cabrera.  The thirdbaseman was charging and Phillips seized the opportunity.  Cabrera drove him home with a ground ball.  It snapped a streak of 23 scoreless innings by the Cincinnati offense.

"Brandon was picked off but he knew that Olivo threw it in the dirt,"  Baker said.  "It was a big play.  Orlando started yelling right away."

Joey Votto, a fellow All-Star, hit a bloop double and crossed the plate when Jonny Gomes singled.

Phillips singled again leading off the fifth and scored on Cabrera's double.  Phillips, Cabrera and Gomes were running on fumes going into the four-day break.  The team endured 103 degree weather in New York and Philadelphia and recent Cy Young winners in Johan Santana, Roy Halladay and Cole Hammels.

Phillips was 1-for-19, Cabrera 2-for-19 and Gomes 3-for-16 but three hits came in one game.

"They didn't get on base much at the tail end of the road trip," Baker said.  "Tonight their bats were a little quicker."

"I needed a break," Phillips said.  "I started to get tired at the end.  I felt like Superman out there tonight."

Arroyo went through the first seven innings with little trouble.  The only baserunner, Jonathan Herrera, reached on an infield hit.  He was erased on a double play.

Colorado scored with two outs in the seventh when Carlos Gonzalez singled and Jason Giambi doubled him home.  Olivo hit a home run to left that the umpires reviewed to see if a fan reached onto the field to make the catch.  He did not and the home run stood.

Arroyo ran out of gas.  Ian Stewart walked and Clint Barmes punched a single to right.  Dusty Baker took the  ball and handed it to All-Star, Arthur Rhodes.

"Sometimes with a starting pitcher, taking a couple of days off is not conducive to having control," Arroyo said.  "I felt good.  I was hitting my spots.  We got the lead and was able to hold it.  We got started on the right foot for the second half."

Rhodes walked pinch hitter Ryan Spilbourghs on a close 3-2 pitch.  Dexter Fowler, who earlier robbed Jay Bruce of a three-run home run, flied out to shallow right.  He caught Herrera looking at a called third strike.  With the crowd cheering harder than they did for the 1990 Reds, he fanned Gonzalez with some high heat to get out of the jam.

"This team responds to crowds," Baker said.  "I've been places where the 10th player really affects the other team."

"This is a baseball city," Phillips said.  "When you win you come and watch.  I'm the same way.  You can still be a fan but when the team I root for is terrible, I wouldn't come out and watch."

"I think it's time for the fans to come out," Arroyo said.  "I know money isn't abundant but having fans come out will help keep this team together."

The Reds are honoring the 1990 team on its 20th reunion since the wire-to-wire team won the World Championship.  The crowd of 37,188 was in a nostalgic mood.  More than 6,000 bought tickets just before the game.

Thrill a minute, Francisco Cordero, nailed it down, giving Arroyo a 10-4 record.