Clinchmas In Cincinnati As Reds Cop NL Central Flag

For nearly 100 years the Cincinnati Reds' were only professional franchise in the Queen City.  The Royals moved from Rochester, New York in 1957 and they left in 1972.  The Bengals arrived in 1968.  It is said there are two seasons in Cincinnati, baseball and winter.

For the second time in three years the once proud baseball franchise finished the 162 game marathon at the top of its division.  Both times on the strength of a Jay Bruce home run the Reds finished off its nemesis from the Big Red Machine era, the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-0.

In 2010 the franchise snapped an eight-season slump without a winning season.

The Reds' distanced themselves from the NL Central pack with a torrid stretch immediately after the All-Star break.

Beginning the day with an 11-game lead over arch-rival St. Louis with 11 games to play, either a loss by St. Louis or a Reds' win gave the crown to Cincinnati.

Bruce hit his 34th home run of the season 443 feet into the Dodgers' bullpen off young Stephen Fife, snapping a scoreless tie in the fourth.  The Reds added a run on a two-out single from rookie Todd Frazier an inning later.  Brandon Phillips clubbed his 18th home run off Matt Guerrier in the seventh.

Mat Latos, who cost the Reds three first round draft picks this winter in a trade with San Diego, scattered six harmless singles to earn his 13th win against just four losses.  Latos put eight scoreless innings in the books as the excitement in the ball park grew with each pitch.

The Reds added three runs in the eighth to break it wide open.

Acting manager Chris Speier went to Aroldis Chapman, who hadn't pitched since September 10 due to shoulder fatigue.

Matt Kemp grounded out to Zack Cozart at shortstop, the crowd got charged up.
Adrian Gonzalez walked with the crowd on its feet.
Hanley Ramirez hit into a 4-6-3 double play setting off a mob scene on the field to a rousing cheer from the stands.