Reds Right in Race After 4-3 Win Over Tampa Bay

The resilient Reds bounced back from a disappointing loss less than 14 hours after it occurred.  Edinson Volquez  bounced back from a humbling start on Friday night that ultimately resulted in a similar loss on Friday.

The Reds at the half-way mark of the 2011 season were losing the type of games that became its trademark last season.  The Comeback Kids (see Mark Schmetzer and Joe Jacobs book) built a reputation for winning the same type of games in early 2010.

Last year the Reds were 46-35 at the mid-point.  This year they checked in at 41-40.

Ryan Hanigan hit the three-run home run to put the Reds ahead of the stingy James Shields and caught one of the best games the enigmatic Volquez has thrown in two years.  In his star-of-the-game interview, the understated Hanigan expressed the feeling that the Reds were about to embark on a hot streak.

Volquez bested one of the hottest pitchers in baseball after Evan Longoria broke the Reds heart with a game winning home run in the ninth inning after the Reds rallied twice late in the game.

Hanigan's fourth inning blast with two-men on and two out, infused Cincinnati with confidence and Volquez backed it up.

Volquez, who has had well documented problems early in games, took a shutout into the sixth inning.  Longoria was at it again, placing a softly hit two-run double, the opposite way down the right field line to make the Reds squirm but this time, Volquez squelched the rally albeit on a line drive double play, making up for softly hit balls that have found holes lately.

Fred Lewis got one of the runs back with a two-out single in the Reds next at bat against Shields.

B.J Upton, however, ended Volquez day with a home run.

On Tuesday night, Logan Ondrusek threw two pitches and was hung with the loss; when Longoria scorched a fastball to burn the Reds.  Dusty Baker put the big Texan back on his horse and Ondrusek retired the three batters he faced.

Bill Bray in a repeat of Baker's strategy from the night before, came on to retire Johnny Damon, who earlier tied Ted Williams for 71st on the all-time hit list.  Bray made his pitch on Damon Tuesday but didn[t get the results.  Damon reached out and blooped the pitch barely out of the reach of three Cincinnati defenders to drive home a pair of runs.  This time Bray caused Damon to bounce weakly to thirdbaseman Scott Rolen.  Bray fanned Ben Zobrist to preserve the lead.

Francisco Cordero, who hadn't encountered a save opportunity in 10 days, pitched to the heart of Tampa Bay's order to notch his 16th save in 18 chances.

The Reds were within two games of first place when interleague play began.  Even though they lost 10 of 15 to the American Leaguers, the Reds sit 2 1/2 games out.  Milwaukee, the leader in the Central Division lost to the New York Yankees.  St. Louis beat Baltimore to move within a game.  Pittsburgh took over third place from the Reds Tuesday night but returned it on Wednesday with a loss to Toronto.