Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce Lead Reds Over Pirates

Two Texans Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce were selected by the Reds in the first round of the draft in back-to-back years.

Homer Bailey has gotten "progressively better" according to Dusty Baker.   Bailey threw a complete game in the Reds 8-1 win over Pittsburgh to even the series.  He has turned in eight quality starts in his 10 starts and now boasts a record of 4-3.

Bailey and rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco have been learning to work together.  Bailey's ERA is down to 3.73.

Jay Bruce put the Reds on the board with an RBI double in the second inning. He scored on Todd Frazier's double.

Bruce was struggling last week when Dusty Baker decided the young right fielder needed a day of rest, mental more that physical.  Baker told Bruce to relax and not hit in the cage, just have fun.

The prescription worked.  Since the day off Bruce has six hits in 14 at bats.  He has two doubles and a home run.

Frazier a double, triple and a pair of  RBI.

Brandon Phillips is heating up too with a pair of hits and is heating up.

On Monday Bronson Arroyo couldn't close out an inning.  He gave up four runs in four innings and all of the Runs scored with two outs.  The Reds could do nothing with James McDonald, who held them scoreless through eight innings .  Chris Heisey drove in Joey Votto in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh bullpen.

Alfredo Simon was an unsung hero, throwing three scoreless innings to spare the rest of the bullpen and allow the Reds offense an opportunity to come back.  Simon's ERA dropped to 1.74.  In his last five appearances he has allowed just one earned run in 10 innings.