Johnny Cueto turned in another quality start and Chris Heisey hit two home runs but it wasn't enough to beat Jake Westbrook and the division leading St. Louis Cardinals until Brandon Phillips became a super hero.
Phillips saved the Reds from another disappointing one run loss by hitting a game winning, game ending, two-run home run with Zack Cozart playing the able sidekick by scoring in front to Phillips.
The Reds inability to hit with the bases loaded and some bad luck kept the Cardinals in the game. In contrast St. Louis scored three runs in an inning by making outs count.
The Reds offense through six innings was Heisey's two solo home runs of Westbrook. Cueto made them stand up for six frames but the lead slipped away in the seventh.
Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday blooped a pair of singles in front of Fred Lewis in left field. Cueto lost Lance Berkman with a walk to load the bases with no outs. Cueto did his best to work out of it. David Freese hit a slow ground ball to Brandon Phillips, who charged it but only had a play at first base. Yadier Molina beat a pitch into the ground that made thirdbaseman, Scott Rolen leave his feet. He had only one play and that was to first as the tying run scored. Brandon Phillps dropped a ground ball that would have ended the inning off the bat of Skip Schumaker. Pinch hitter Tony Cruz singled to give St. Louis the lead.
The Reds already wasted a bases loaded, one out chance to score in the sixth but Fred Lewis struck out looking and Ramon Hernandez bounced out to Freese at third.
The Reds regained the lead in the seventh but bad luck and a lack of clutch hitting hurt them again. Drew Stubbs walked to open the inning while batting for Cueto off Mitchel Boggs. Heisey hit a two-hopper to Freese but the thirdbaseman threw the ball away to put runners on first and third with no outs. Zack Cozart got his first career RBI with an infield single into the hole at shortstop. Joey Votto ripped a double to the right centerfield gap off Trever Miller but the ball bounced into the stands to put the Reds up a run but kept Cozart from scoring.
Aroldis Chapman started the eighth inning against lefthanded hitting Colby Rasmus. Chapman went to a full count and walked him. The Cuban lefthander fell behind Pujols 2-0. Pujols blasted his 19th home run to put the Cardinals back in control.
Tony La Russa used every player he had but backup catcher Gerald Laird. He emptied his entire bullpen with newly crowned closer Fernando Salas starting the ninth facing Heisey.
Salas saved 16 games in 18 chances coming into the game.
Heisey struck out swinging. Cozart hit his third single of the game. Votto lined to right.
Phillips lined a 1-0 pitch into the left field seats to save the day.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment