"We're probably going to lose a game," Heisey said after his three RBI night on Wednesday. "But if we do go 162-0 we'll have some big headlines."
Going 161-1 would only be slightly smaller as the Reds tasted defeat for the first time this season but it wasn't for lack of effort.
Brett Myers had a great season in 2010, pitching into the sixth inning in all 32 of his starts. He pitched into the seventh on Thursday, allowing the Reds just two runs. In fact he allowed just one until the last pitch he threw which pinch hitter, Scott Rolen sent as a souvenir to customers sitting in the leftfield stands.
Sam LeCure, who seems to draw the best pitchers as opponents, matched Myers pretty well. LeCure didn't know he was a starter until just prior to his last Cactus League assignment, hasn't been stretched out but kept the team in the game.
Jason Bourgeois, replacing a banged up Michael Bourn, singled to start the game. He stole second. Bourgeois got to third with one out when Angel Sanchez bunted him over. He scored on a groundout.
"Sam threw the ball great," Dusty Baker said. "He kept us in the game."
The other run scored off LeCure when Carlos Lee tripled to open the fourth. Brett Wallace's ground out got him home.
"It was a get me over fastball," LeCure said. "I thought he hit it out. I was ready to get a new ball from the umpire. I'm surprised it stayed in. I didn't think he'd be ready for it. It's just a reminder that you have to keep your focus every pitch."
Jonny Gomes drew his eighth walk of the season to start the second and scored on Edgar Renteria's double, one of the World Series MVP's three hits. He was on base all four plate appearances. The Reds loaded the bases but Myers got Drew Stubbs to pop out to secondbase.
"We had our chances. We didn't get the two out hits. They got one. We just got beat," Baker said.
Rolen's home run tied the game in the seventh as he hit for Jordan Smith who pitched two scoreless innings.
It was the last pitch Myers threw.
Mark Melancon and Fernando Abad kept the Reds off the scoreboard leading into the ninth.
Nick Masset allowed two runners in the eighth but started the ninth with the tie intact.
Wallace singled to open the ninth but Chris Johnson and Bill Hall flied out. Masset got two strikes on Humberto Quintero but he singled to left. Matt Downs hit a two-strike double to put the Astros up 3-2.
"Masset threw the ball great. He just hung a slider to Downs. He had two strikes on bottom of the lineup guys. It shows that everybody who swings a bat is dangerous," Baker said.
"I made some good pitches and they put some goos swings on the ball," Masset said. "It's part of the game. You can't do anything about it."
Drama built in the Reds ninth as it did opening day a week ago.
Heisey flied to right and Stubbs grounded out to first, off Brandon Lyon. Sweet swinging tweeter DatdudeBP, Brandon Phillips, singled up the middle. Reigning MVP Joey Votto scorched a base hit off Wallace's chest at firstbase.
Opening Day hero Ramon Hernandez was called for a repeat performance. He hit a hard ground ball up the middle but Angel Sanchez, who had a rough series in the field gloved it and got the force out
"We keep going until the last out is made," Hernandez said. "That's what we did."
"We just have to go on the road and start a new streak," Baker said.
No comments:
Post a Comment