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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > April > 14 > Entry
Volquez: the mouse that got away
Edinson Volquez knew he was the mouse who escaped the cat.
As he walked from the players dining room toward his locker, carrying a beverage and a sandwich, he spotted media gathered near his locker and broke into a broad grin:
“You want to talk to me?” he asked.
Well, OK.
Volquez survived only five innings Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up six runs and seven hits for his 99 pitches. He gave up two homers, He balked. He permitted an easy stolen base. He was late covering first base that cost him a run, and the margin too slim to give away runs — a 7-6 Reds victory.
“The best thing about the whole night was we got the win,” he said. “It wasn’t the best thing. It was the only thing. But it IS the most important thing.”
Volquez gave up a run in the first — when he was late covering first base.
“I was late,” he said. ‘I’m going to get fined for that one.”
Said manager Dusty Baker, “He was late getting there and we work and work and work and work on that. Guess we’ll have to work some more.”
Volquez gave up four in the second, three on Corey Hart’s three-run homer, but the Reds scored six in the third, four on Edwin Encarnacion’s home run with two outs after Joey Votto’s two-out run-scoring single.
“Two-out RBIs, that’s what wins you ballgames,” said Baker.
Volquez said he felt better his last two innings — although he loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth and said, “I knew I was going to get out of that with no runs. I just told myself, ‘No runs.’ ” And he gave up a home run to J.J. Hardy in the fifth.
“He wasn’t sharp, but he gave us all he had for five innings and got the win,” said Baker. “He is good at getting into jams and good at getting out of them.”
Now the Reds are 3-3, 1-0 on the road with nine left on this trip.
“Good to get the first one, that’s for sure, and to get us back to .500,” said Baker.
It wasn’t easy, but Volquez smiled and said, “Now I can enjoy my sandwich and my drink.”
ON THE UGLY SIDE, SS Alex Gonzalez is 0 for 16 on the year. C Ramon Hernandez finally got another hit, a hippety-hopper up the middle, but before that he hit into a double play and struck out and his average is .105, making the bottom of the Reds order a vast wasteland.
It might be time for Baker to make some bottom-feeder adjustments.
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Comments
By Bill from Florida
April 14, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this
I hope the team will improve its performance this year. In this way WJ will be forced to look via trade, at least, a RH power hitter and lefty starter. power hitterBy Teal'c
April 14, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
I would put AGon on the DL with some kind of mystery ailment, then send him to AAA on rehab until he figures out how to hit. If he can’t hit there, I would release him.By RC
April 14, 2009 12:27 PM | Link to this
AGonz is still kind of in spring training mode, since he got a late start. Given the solid D plus the “potential” for .260-.270 and 15-20 HR’s, I’d give him a couple more weeks before I pushed the panic button. Hernandez… well, I think it’s too early to give up on him as well, but I would like to see RH getting a couple of starts a week. Sitting isn’t going to do him any favors.By Steven
April 14, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this
Gonzo & Hernandez will be in the lineup because that’s the way Dusty rolls. We all know Hanigan should be starting with Janish splitting time at SS but that’ll never happen.By Steve
April 14, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
That was a huge win for a young team. Did not play well but found a way. Very positive. Also, Dickerson needs to play everyday.By bhikku_bum
April 14, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this
Whatever happened to the sacrifice fly? a lost artBy Bill from Florida
April 14, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
I think it’s time to apply some changes in the line-up: Taveras CF, Dickerson LF, Philips 2B, Votto 1B, EE 3B, Bruce RF, Hanigan C & Janish SS.By SonofSonofBeast
April 14, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this
Jack- Read Joe’s post, he said he sees 100 losses again, implying that they did that last year and years before. Not the case. If you’re going to be that negative, at least know what you are talking about.By george
April 14, 2009 10:34 AM | Link to this
Last night sent me through a manic mess. One minute I was down, then up, and finally confused in the end. But I don’t think last year’s team would have won this game.By Rick
April 14, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this
What a mess— maybe we can get a Federal Bailout requiring new managementBy Jack
April 14, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
Joe,I have no idea why you cant predict a 100 loss season if you do not know the last time they had a 100 loss season. I have them for 90+ losses.Good win. thoughlalast nightBy ME
April 14, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Yes Cait, it happened to me, also, and probably everyone else. I found the game on a near-by channel on directv.By Cait
April 14, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
No one mentioned how good the bullpen was last night. Don’t forget about Janish. He can’t be worse than Gonzo right now and he’s better defensively than Hairston. Also, I missed the end of the game because FoxSports cut out after the first out in the bottom of the ninth to go to Best Damn … Did that happen elsewhere?By SonofSonofBeast
April 14, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
Joe- Do you know when the Reds last lost 100 or more games in a season? I do, it was 1982. Oh, and by the way, that was the ONLY year they EVER lost 100 or more. Don’t post if you don’t know…By dhagoreds
April 14, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
What has happened to Volquez and Cueto throwing strikes? They seem to be getting away from using their fastball to get ahead in the count. Have they lostfaith in their fastball? I don’t think so,but it is just the way the game is being called by Hernandez.Start using their strength. faith in their fastballBy Mike-Cinci
April 14, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this
There are 155 games to go!By J, Cincy
April 14, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
Joe, defintely dont think they are that bad AGon and Ramon need to figure it out quick, or go with Hanigan and HairstonBy J, Cincy
April 14, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this
Joe, defintely dont think they are that bad AGon and Ramon need to figure it out quick, or go with Hanigan and HairstonBy Joe
April 14, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this
What a sad team this Reds team is! I see 100 loses again this season with their what, eighth straight losing season?By Gary Maloy Jr
April 14, 2009 5:14 AM | Link to this
It’s important to win games like this. If you can win the games you try to give away, things will be alright. C’mon people! Give people a chance. Neither Hernandez nor Gonzalez are going to hit under the Mendoza line. But then again, Joey Votto ain’t gonna hit over .500 either. Give it a rest already!! They’ve played SIX games!By Mike
April 14, 2009 2:42 AM | Link to this
Wow, did Corey Paterson clone and rename himself Gonzalez and Hernandez? Remember the postseason when some of us thought Taverus would be the weak link on this team?