Tall Order Reds Get In A Hole In Cleveland

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The pregame discussion in Bryan Price's office was about the great pitching the Reds have wasted this season with the inability to score runs.

"You hate it when you get good pitching and can't score runs," Price said.  "But it's baseball.  You know going into the season there will be times when it happens. It is inevitable.  It happens to every team.  That being said, but when it happens a few games in a row, it's frustrating."

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The illustration came in the form of a 7-1 defeat to the Indians.

The first of two games in Cleveland was not one of those games.  While the Reds couldn't solve new Cleveland ace Cory Kluber, Alfredo "Cy" Simon pitched like Simple Simon from children's fairy tales.

The Indians scored a run in the first that would have scored even if Simon had remembered to cover first on Michael Brantley;s RBI ground out to Brayan Pena at first.  Jason Kipnis opened the game with a double and Mike Aviles bunted him to third.

Simon was not sharp in his fourth attempt at his 13th win and first since the All-Star break.

"He has been so good that it stands out when he struggles for a couple games in a row," said Price of his starter, who broke a string of nine straight quality starts by Reds' pitching.  "It is inevitable that questions arise because he hasn't been there before.  I don't worry about Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto, who are used to pitching 200 innings."

He gave up three straight hits to open the fourth inning with Lonnie Chisenhall's 11th home run of the year to straight away center being the most damaging.  Cleveland added another run in the fifth, the final frame for Simon.

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Asking the Reds offense to score five runs over four innings is like asking Tom Thumb to dunk a basketball.

Kluber came into the game with an impressive ERA of 2.61 and is now the teams best starter since they traded unsigned Justin Masterson to St. Louis last week.  Kluber matched Simon's win total at 12 by keeping the punchless Reds no closer to the scoreboard in Cleveland as they would be Wednesday when they host the Indians.

Kluber had 10 innings without allowing a run coming into the game and had not allowed an earned run in 15 frames.

The Reds got two hits in the first inning with a noteworthy single by Jay Bruce who finally beat the shift by grounding a ball through the traditional shortstop position.  Kluber allowed a leadoff single to Billy Hamilton in the third but Bruce hit it two the over shifted secondbaseman Kipnis but Jose Ramirez relay was wide.  Todd Frazier reached on an error by Ramirez but for the second time in three innings, Pena grounded out with two runners on base.

Bruce again beat the shift with a single in the eighth inning.  Devin Mesoroco chased Kluber with a single one out later.  This time Pena delivered a run with a double off reliever Nick Hagadone. It snapped Kluber's run of scoreless innings at 17 and 25 (ER). Ryan Ludwick was announced as a pinch hitter for Skip Schumaker.  Indians' manager, Terry Francona,  Ludwick flied to shallow right and Hannahan grounded to short.

Carlos Contreras ate three innings and was touched by a two-run home run by Yan Gomes.

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