"Clutch Man Monie" did it again. Ramon Hernandez, the newly naturalized American catcher, hit a grand slam home run to help the Reds clobber Pittsburgh on Saturday. Jonny Gomes hit three home runs this weekend, two Saturday and another on Sunday.
Mike Leake rebounded from a bad start last Sunday with a six inning, two-run outing on Saturday. Leake was moved up a day because Edinson Volquez had a stiff neck.
Volquez has a 23.50 ERA in his four first inning but has a 1.93 ERA after the first inning. He allowed four first inning runs and six runs in his six inning, Sunday start.
Again the Reds potent offense bailed him out. The Reds even took the lead on a Jay Bruce home run. Bruce's bat has picked up the last three games. The Pirates seem to bring out the best in Bruce. He hit his first two home runs off Pittsburgh pitching last season and followed suit this weekend. He ruined Charlie Morton's shutout on Friday and belted another on Sunday.
I took a break from Reds action to perform Public Address duties and official scoring at the College of Mount St. Joe who swept a three-game weekend series against the Panthers of Hanover College.
The Lions played good defense all weekend. The double play combination of shortstop, Josh Denny and John Pasqualed turned some nifty twin killings to complement the solid pitching of Ben Hunterman, Drew Ernst and Brandon Bouley. Ernst from Elder high school also contributed a key pinch hit double on Saturday in the 5-4 win. Ernst completed a seven-inning 5-1 win over Hanover in the first game of Sunday's double header. Bouley allowed a first inning run in the second game then shut down the Panthers before turning the game over to the bullpen, in the nightcap win also a 5-1 effort.
After meeting with Dusty Baker every day for six weeks in Goodyear, Arizona plus the last five regular season games. I have written and/or said the two-word combination so often it was seared into my brain.
The umpire for the first game of the Hanover - Mount series was Dusty Bryant. Guess what came over the PA.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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