Reds Strand 10 Waste Dontrelle Willis Great Effort 3-2

Dontrelle Willis should be 6-0 rather than 0-2 but other than himself, none of his teammates could hit with runners on base.


As my good friend MaryLouise said, "‎...and the Reds strand three. Can we just make a recording of this and push play?"

Dusty Baker used a more theatrical reference.  "We left a lot of men on base.  It's like ground hog day.  We say the same thing every night."


The Reds left 10 men on base.


Dontrelle Willis taken by the Reds off baseball's scrap heap was brilliant.


"That was Dontrelle's best game," Baker said..  "He had his best velocity, his best command.  He just left a ball up to Tulowitzki.  He knew we needed a lot of innings from him and he pitched like it.  That was a great performance pitching, fielding and hitting, all kinds of things.  It's too bad we couldn't get a win for him.  He'll win some games."


Willis provided half the offense with a triple that scored Ramon Hernandez, who had three hits.  It was the sixth triple of his career.  He has a six game hitting streak with a hit in all six of his starts. (.400 with a home run and double as well as the triple).


The Reds have left 866 base runners stranded in 115 games.  Only the Mets have left more men on the base paths.


Willis gave up a two-run home run to Troy Tulowitzki to allow the Rockies to take the lead.


Todd Frazier reached base on a strikeout that eluded catcher, Chris Iannetta.  He scored from second when Esmil Rogers knocked down Edgar Renteria's smash up the middle.  Rogers forced Dave Sappelt at second but Frazier kept running and beat the throw home.


"They had some good at bats in the middle of the game," Willis said.  "I threw something I shouldn't have thrown to Tulowitzki.  He's a great hitter and we're friends.  He got the timely hit.  That's the difference between winning and losing."


The ability to field bunts also played a big ro


Colorado loaded the bases with one out when their starter, Esmil Rogers, bunted for a hit on a sacrifice attempt. Todd Frazier at thirdbase was late charging the ball as Rogers forced him to field it rather than cover third with runners on first and second.


Dexter Fowler drove in the winning run.


It all came down to bunts," Baker said.  "We didn't get an out on a bunt.  The pitch to Fowler was up a little bit but if we get the out on the bunt, he's out of it."

The Reds last good scoring chance fizzled an inning later.

Hernandez and Frazier singled to start the inning.  Willis bunt was fielded by Rogers, who forced Hernandez at third.  Sappelt and Renteria failed to get the run home.  The Reds were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position a Ground Hog Day occurrence.

"Their pitcher (Esmil Rogers) made a great play on Dontrelle's bunt.  That ball was by him.  He doesn't make that we have them loaded with no outs."