Reds Lead in the Ohio Solo Cup Over Cleveland

Country Star Toby Keith Hold Ohio Solo Cup

The coveted Ohio Cup is the prize for the winner of the regular season series between the Reds and Indians.

Since spring training results are less meaningful the members of the press have dubbed the six meetings between the Reds and Indians the Ohio Solo Cup Championship.  A sharpie has been taken to an authentic red Solo cup with the scores from each game.  It will be prominently displayed in the press box  at Goodyear Ballpark.

The Reds and Indians just completed a crucial three-game red Ohio Solo cup series in which the Reds won two of the three and tied the other.  The opener ended in a 6-6 tie, Sunday Cincinnati won 8-6 and Monday the Reds prevailed 12-7.

On Monday the Reds pounded Cleveland opening day starter, Justin Masterson.  They scored six runs off the Indians ace.  Joey Votto and Jay Bruce had two RBI in the five run second inning.

Bruce had two hits and a walk.  Corky Miller hit a two-run home run.  Drew Stubbs significantly had a bunt single.  Stubbs has seven plate appearances with four hits.  He has not struck out in three games.

"He's been working on it (bunting).  He's been working on it ever since he got here," Baker said.  "It just takes a couple of hits to get the confidence in it.  I don't know what it is the guys make an out and feel like they wasted an at bat.  In the meantime they're hitting .250 with a 75 percent chance of making an out.  You look at most guys that bunt.  They bunt four or five hundred. Bunting keeps you out of slumps. Then like yesterday (Kris) Negron fakes a bunt.  The thirdbaseman comes in and he hits a high hop over his head.  If he's at his regular position he might have made that play.  Plus if you bring them in their reaction time and range isn't as good."

The Reds defense was solid and they  made three outstanding plays.  Willie Harris made a diving catcn, Chris Heisey recovered from a bad jump to make a nice diving catch.  Didi Gregorious turned a bad hop ricochet off pitcher Chad Reineke, the Miami product. Reineke was the beneficiary of all three plays.

"I'm really excited about the defense we played," Dusty Baker said.  "Usually that's the last thing to come.  I'm sure we'll have a couple games where we kick the ball and throw the ball around but defense usually comes last."