Roy Halladay and Erik Kratz Spoil Votto's Return

Giving Roy Halladay a four-run lead is like giving Charlie Sheen a car load of hookers with a glove box full of Viagra.  There is going to be a party.

Halladay, the 2010 Cy Young award winner faced off against the 2010 Most Valuable Player, Joey Votto in Votto's return from knee surgery.  Halladay himself is still recovering from injury but is a perfect 110-0 when given at least a four-run lead with a 6-2 win.

Erik Kratz, the new Reds' nemisis, cracked a three-run home run, following three consecutive singles to start the Phillies second inning off Mike Leake.  Kratz is 8-for-17 against the Reds.  One inning later hit a two-run home run to center off Leake.  The Reds bullpen quartet of Alfredo Simon, Sam LeCure, Sean Marshall and newcomer Pedro Villareal, making his debut curtailed the Phillies offense.

"He keeps hitting home runs.  He might be Babe Ruth," Phillie's manager Charlie Manuel said.

That was all that "Doc" Halladay needed.

He spoiled the Reds' long awaited return of its best hitter in Votto but Jay Bruce continued to sting the ball. Bruce homered for the fourth straight game off Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth.  Bruce added two doubles and drove in both Reds' runs, including a run scoring double in the fourth.  He tied his career high with four home runs in four games.  His 32 home runs for the season, tie his career-high established last season.

Votto singled sharply off Halladay in his first at bat.

"I thank the baseball gods.  I got to face Halladay my first day back," said a facetious Votto.

Votto walked and singled again off Halladay before the Phillies removed their starter.

"I expected Joey Votto to be more rusty," Halladay said.

The return was welcome news for the Reds in spite of the loss.

"It went fine," Votto said.  "Unfortunately it came in a loss."


Votto struck out looking in the eighth facing Antonio Bastardo, who replaced Halladay.

"It I'd have gotten Votto out, I might have pitched longer," Halladay said.


"I think it went better than I expected," Votto said. "I was happy to be back in the lineup playing. Unfortunately, it came with a loss."

 Reds manager Dusty Baker thought about taking Votto out in the seventh, but changed his mind when Votto said he was OK.

"Joey's fine," Baker said. "I think those (medical) rehab days (in the minor leagues) really helped. I asked him in the seventh inning how he was doing, and he said he was fine."

"He looked pretty good to me. He even slid. We didn't anticipate him sliding on that double-play ball, but he's a ballplayer."

Votto hurt his knee sliding into third base in San Francisco on June 29. He went into another slid Wednesday in the fourth inning.

"The knee held up well until Bastardo buckled it," Votto joked. "I was a little apprehensive and did some things gingerly. I have to get over that hurdle, and I will at some point."

Votto said he was humbled by the ovation he received when he went out just before the game to loosen up, and by the standing ovation given to him by half of the crowd when he stepped to the plate in the first inning.

 "I'm appreciative of the support," said Votto, who admitted on Tuesday to being apprehensive about his reception. "It exceeded my expectations."


Leake was hit hard by the Phillies for the second time in as many outings.

He allowed a career-high seven runs in 4-1/3 innings to Philadelphia on August 20 and lasted just 2-1/3 innings on Tuesday, surrendering six runs.

"They have a good plan and make it work," Leake said.  "They have some good hitters that I haven't figured out yet."


Even with the loss the Reds maintain an 8-1/2 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and reduce it's magic number to 17 because the New York Mets defeated them also by a score of 6-2.

Notes:
Didi Gregorius and Pedro Villareal made their Major League debuts on Wednesday.  Gregorius was robbed of his first hit, in his first at bat by a diving catch made by Juan Pierre.  Gregorius, was 0-for-4 but turned the tables on Pierre with and acrobatic grab of Pierre's bid for a hit.  Villareal pitched a perfect ninth inning witha a strikeout of Domonic Brown...Todd Frazier singled to extend his on-base streak to 28 games by a hit or a walk....Jay Bruce has nine of the Reds' last 11 RBI.  He has also accounted for the Reds' last five home runs...Chris Heisey had two hits extending his hitting streak to six games, including four multi-hit games.  He is hitting .469 in his last 12 appearances (15-for-32)...