Homer Bailey Brilliant in Reds 3-1 Series Deciding Win Over the Cardinals

Homer Bailey left the game reluctantly.  He wanted to finish.

His last act was to walk Skip Schumaker with one out in the eighth inning but he threw one of his best games of the season.  Bailey allowed just three hits and the Reds garnered just enough offense to beat Jaime Garcia.

Lance Berkman as is his habit hit his 25th home run of the season in the second inning.  Berkman has only hit his 23rd at Great American Ball Park.  That is not unusual.

What is unusual is the Bailey had one of those days, that he didn't feel 100 percent.

"I had nothing in the bullpen," Bailey said.  "I didn't think I'd make it through the second inning.  It was one of the best games I've pitched.  Berkman got into a hitters count and I didn't get the pitch where I wanted.  Like Dusty said if you're going to give up a home run, give up a solo home run.  We had to score one anyway, so it didn't bother me that much."

Garcia, who signed a big contract extension over the break, escaped a couple mini jams before defense and a wild pitch gave momentum to the Reds.

Drew Stubbs, who had two hits, singled to lead off the game but only got to second with two outs.  Stubbs doubled with two outs in the third.

Joey Votto led off the fourth with a double, advanced to third on a long fly ball to center field by Brandon Phillips.  Votto watched the end of the inning and the demise of the next two batters from that viewpoint.  Jonny Gomes struck out with the infield in.  Jay Bruce grounded out.

Zack Cozart, called up from Louisville just before the break, singled.  He has hit safely for his sixth straight game, or all of his appearances.  Votto grounded to Skip Schumaker at second base, a potential double play, though its high hops made it difficult.  It was so difficult that Schumaker rushed his throw.  It was high and pulled Ryan Theriot off the base.  Cozart with a late slide was safe.

"I've learned that to breakup a double play you slide late.  I waited until the last possible second to slide," Cozart said.

Theriot blew his cool.  The riot ensued.  Secondbase Umpire Mike Muchlinski pulled out his thumb and said," Cherrio Theriot."

The ejection came into play later but first, Garcia turned a little wild.

Garcia, threw a pitch in the dirt while pitching to Brandon Phillips.  Both runners advanced.  Garcia put another pitch in the dirt to an aggressive Gomes.  Gomes didn't bite and the pitch bounded to the backstop.  Cozart came home.  Gomes grounded out.

Veteran Miguel Cairo took the team by the bat and hit a one out triple to right center in the seventh.  There have been fans screaming for Chris Heisey to play more and/or Cozart to come up to play shortstop everyday.  Yet no one even suggests that Cairo take over for Scott Rolen.

"He's been in the game a half a century," Dusty Baker said.  "He stays ready.  He loves to play.  Cairo has been in that situation millions of times.  To think he was almost out of the game.  He appreciates getting another chance here."

The 37-year old veteran hit a line drive to the gap in right center and left the batter's box with a triple in mind.

"You don't see many triples to right center in our ball park.  That was huge," Baker said.

It forced St. Louis to draw its infield in.

Ryan Hanigan stroked a ground single up the middle to deliver Cairo.

Bailey now had a one run lead to work with.  He struck out Tony Cruz.  Jon Jay walked batting for Garcia.  Baker went to Bill Bray.  Bray has held lefthanded hitters to a paltry .183 batting average.  This is where Theriot's ejection comes into play.  Tony La Russa sent switch hitter, Nick Punto, in to hit for lefthanded hitting, Schumaker.  Punto singled off Votto's glove.  Daniel Descalso, who replaced Theriot, is a lefthanded hitter and lefthanded hitting Colby Rasmus was on deck.  Baker could now leave Bray in the game.

"We were looking for Homer to throw a complete game.  He was very pitch efficient (88 into the eighth).  But it was hot and they had some dangerous lefties coming up," Baker said.

Descalso flied out to left field.  La Russa chose, Yadier Molina to come off the bench to bat for Rasmus.  Baker countered with Nick Masset.  Molina blooped a pitch toward right over the head of Phillips. Unlike recent games in which a ball hit like that was just out of the Reds grasp, Phillips used his basketball, jumpmanship and caught the ball.

Cozart gave the Reds breathing room.  He lined his first career home run down the left field off Lance Lynn.

"I wasn't trying to hit a home run," Cozart said, clutching the ball he hit.  "I was just trying to get on base for Joey.  It was nice of Billy, who I just met to give me the ball."

With a two-run lead, facing Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Berkman a less daunting task.

When last seen Francisco Cordero was blowing a save in Milwaukee.  Cordero bounced back with an easy ninth.

"What happened in the past is in the past," Cordero said.  "I am looking forward.  Those things (blown saves) are going to happen.  I came in today and made good pitches to three good hitters. It's always satisfying to get a win but going 1-2-3 against those guys is huge.  I didn't use many pitches so I'm ready for tomorrow."

"It was good to get Coco back on track," Baker said.  "Cozart's home run gave us some room."

The Reds pull within three games of the Central Division lead and head to Pittsburgh.

"It was the first time we've won a series in a while.  You hope this carries over but momentum just carries over to the next game," Baker said.  "Believing carries you always."