Atlanta Solves Johnny Cueto to Split the Series

A walk along the Chatahoochie River this morning was a wonder like Johnny Cueto's 1.12 ERA coming into the finale of the brief two-game series at Turner Field.  Unlike the timeless beauty of the Chatahoochie National Park, Cueto's ERA eroded at the home of the Braves in a 6-2 loss.

Cueto just didn't have it.  Brian McCann hit a solo home run in the second inning to start the parade for Atlanta.  The Braves bunched five hits in the third to essentially put the game away.

Jack Wilson singled to start the Braves ambush.  Atlanta starter, Tim Hudson, tried to bunt Wilson along but Cueto's aggressive throw to shortstop Zack Cozart.  Then the Braves picked on the Reds righthander.  Michael Bourn, who leads the National League in hits with 55, had the first of his three hits.  Pesky Martin Prado singled Hudson home.  Future Hall of Famer, Chipper Jones, singled Bourn home.  Dan Uggla delivered Prado with a sacrifice fly.  McCann walked.  Jason Heyward doubled to score Jones before Cueto recorded the third out.

The Reds threatened once in the second inning.  Jay Bruce walked. Chris Heisey dribbled a slow roller to third with Bruce running on the pitch.  Jones charged hard and Bruce tried to take advantage, heading to third but the veteran Wilson was waiting with the throw.  It was a good risk but Wilson was alert and caused the Reds promise of a big inning to fade.

Bourn singled in the fourth. Cueto's wild pickoff throw put him in scoring position.  Prado singled to left and Heisey bobbled the ball. Bourn scored easily.  There is irony in Bourn doing most of the damage.  The Reds general manager, Walt Jocketty, tried to pry him from Houston last season but the Astros front office avoid trading within the division.  Now the rebuilding Astros are switching to the American League next season.

Cueto was relieved after four innings, his shortest outing of the year as he fell to 4-1 and watched his ERA rise to a still top-of-the-league 1.89.

The amazing Reds bullpen added to its accolades with four scoreless innings, two by Alfredo Simon (2.30), one by J.J. Hoover (1.08) and one by Jose Arredondo (2.55).  The bullpen has a sterling 2.34 collective ERA in 107 1/3 innings.

Offensively, the Reds showed signs of life.  The had 11 hits just one short of Atlanta but Hudson managed to scatter the hits. Heisey had the infield hit in the second.  Brandon Phillips and Heisey singled in the fourth.  Miguel Cairo had a pinch single in the fifth.  Bruce doubled with two outs in the sixth. 

Todd Frazier singled to open the seventh.  Ryan Hanigan doubled him home.  After pinch hitter Mike Costanzo and Cozart grounded out, Drew Stubbs and Joey Votto singled.  Hudson got Phillips to fly out to complete his night.

Heisey turned in his second straight three-hit game and upped his average to .260.