http://donatelifeohio.org/
Jay Bruce bucking for the Silver Slugger award at firstbase, hit his second two-run home run in two games to give the Reds some separation in the seventh inning. Billy Hamilton finished off the Cubs with a bases loaded triple in the eighth to solidify the Reds 9-3 win.
Bruce played firstbase for the first time in his career with some interesting results. It is a temporary move while Joey Votto nurses his left knee and Brayan Pena is on paternity leave.
"It was a selfless act by one of our guys to do what is needed to help us win," Bryan Price said. "I thought he did a terrific job."
Bruce's home run was off left-hander James Russell (son of Cincinnati native Jeff Russell, who pitched for the Reds and Texas.). It was the the 49th time over the last five seasons that Bruce, a left-handed batter, has homered off a left-handed pitcher. It defies the odds of the game, yet there are no right-handed hitters that have hit that many off left-handers in that same period.
"I was bound and determined early in my career that it wouldn't make a difference," Bruce said. "I don't know why it happens but they are like any other pitcher. Every once in a while they are going to make a mistake. I take a lot of pride and Joey does too in facing left-handers."
The Chicago Cubs have defeated the Reds three times this season. Edwin Jackson has been the winning pitcher in two of them.
 |
| http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/ |
Hamilton drew his first walk in 19 games to open the Reds' first inning. Hamilton sprinted to third on All-Star thirdbaseman, Todd Frazier's line single between short and third. Brandon Phillips produced the run with a fly to right.
Leake protected the lead in spite of the Cubs five doubles of the nine hits allowed by the Reds' starter. The Cubs stranded a runner on secondbase in each of the first five innings. They tied the game in the fifth when firstbaseman, Jay Bruce, that's right firstbaseman Jay Bruce, was charged with an error on Anthony Rizzo's hard ground ball with two outs and runners on the corner.
"When it was hit, I didn't think of it as an error," Price said. "I haven't seen the replay but I thought it was a ball that just got down the line."
Bruce thought he should have fielded it. He was holding the runner and moved off the base with the pitch as he should. The ball was hit hard to his backhand side.
"I felt bad about that. It was a hard play but I think I should have made it," Bruce said. "Hopefully, it won't be a prolonged stay and Joey (Votto) comes back. It was fun though. It was an experience. If I am going to play firstbase, I want to play it well. There are so many nuances that you don't think about. Like where to stand in certain situations."
Leake left runners on first and second by striking out Starlin Castro, who leads the Cubs with a .311 batting average with runners in scoring position.
"I don't mind giving up hits with no one on base," Leake said. "I don't want to but once they're on I turn it up a notch. It makes me concentrate a little bit more."
The Cubs failed to leave a runner stranded in scoring position in the sixth. They had a runners on first and third with one out. Luis Vallbuena hit a hard groundball to first that Bruce successfully fielded to open the inning. Wellington Castillo belted the Cubs fourth double. The slow footed catcher could only manage third when Nate Schierholtz singled sharply to rightfielder Skip Schumaker, who took Bruce's spot on defense.
Schumaker did a great impersonation of Bruce when Darwin Barney lifted a fly to right. With the pitcher on deck, thirdbase coach Gary Jones took a gamble and sent Castillo. Schumaker's throw was slightly off line to the firstbase side of home but catcher, Devin Mesoraco was able to catch the ball and get back in time to tag Castillo.
"That throw made me look good," Price said.
The Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Schumaker doubled with one out. Ramon Santiago singled to right but it was fielded on one bounce by Schierholtz in right. Reds' thirdbase coach, Steve Smith, wisely held Schumaker. Leake bunted but to the mound. Santiago went to second. Hamilton singled to center, raising his average with runners in scoring position to a team-leading .338. Frazier singled to drive in Santiago.
 |
| Reds caricatures for sale fstopjd@fuse.net |
The Reds added a run in the sixth. Bruce singled to open the sixth. Mesoraco doubled him home, having been replaced as the team leader in hitting with runners in scoring position. He takes a .333 mark with RISP into his first All-Star appearance.
Leake allowed the Cubes fifth double to Chris Coughlin in the seventh. Justin Ruggiano struck out but Rizzo's fence scraper eluded Schumaker for the firstbaseman/s 18th long ball of the year, closing the gap to 4-3.
"I think it took some of the sweetness out of it (for Leake 7-7) being so close to getting out of that inning," Price said. "That being said, it was great to add on runs. Leake has pitched some really good games this year without getting a win."
No comments:
Post a Comment