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Cardinals 'escaped' Reds in last game of series

'They know they got away,' Baker says.

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 8:00 PM Sunday, May 10, 2009

After winning the first two games of the series, the Cincinnati Reds went down stubbornly in the finale, using everything but hand-to-hand combat and machetes before losing in 10 innings, 8-7 to the St. Louis Cardinals — and as manager Dusty Baker would call it, “A big-time loss, one I really, really wanted.”

What’s the difference? A two-game swing in the standings, that’s what. Had the Reds won Sunday and swept the series, they would today stand tall, only a half-game out of first place.

Instead they fell back by 2 ½ games as they embark on a six-game western swing, beginning Monday in the Arizona desert against the Diamondbacks.

Baker knew what was coming and said before the game, “This will be a tough one. The Cardinals ain’t going to go down easy today.”

More prophetic words were never spoken.

Down 7-5 in the ninth, the Reds got a leadoff homer from Jerry Hairston Jr. on a 3-and-2 pitch. Then pitcher/pinch-hitter Micah Owings, with two outs and the Reds down by a run, ran the count to 3-and-2, fouled off three, then crushed one into the seats to dramatically tie it.

Alas, closer Coco Cordero, unreliable in tie games, gave up a walk and a game-winning double to Colby Ramus.

And still the Reds stuck out their tongues at the Cardinals, filling the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th before pinch-hitter Paul Janish popped out to end it.

“They didn’t win, they escaped and they know they know escaped,” said Baker. “Damn, I wanted that one.”

Brandon Phillips said the team badly wanted the sweep, but said, “We showed the Cards we’re hungry and that we’re here. They know they got away with one today.”

It wasn’t a good day for Reds starter Edinson Volquez — seven runs in 6 2/3 innings.

And during the 4-hour, 23-minute game that started on Mother’s Day and threatened to end on Father’s Day, the Reds smashed five home runs against a team that had given up 11 all year when they hit town Friday. And there were 401 pitches thrown, most of them bad.

In addition to the 10th, the Reds trashed chances in the seventh and eighth. Pinch-hitter Darnell McDonald struck out on three pitches with two on in the seventh and Willy Taveras struck out on three pitches with two on in the eighth.

The five homers were a two-run shot by Jay Bruce (his 10th) in the third and solo rips by Adam Rosales (his first in the majors) in the fourth, Joey Votto in the seventh then Hairston and Owings in the 10th.

“Owings’ home run was like what you do in your backyard and your imagination — two outs, bottom of the ninth, 3-and-2,” said Bruce. “It’s crazy.

“That game was a blast,” Bruce added. “We could have won, but we played a good baseball game. It was great series. We’re having a blast. I think we sent a message to the Cardinals, although I don’t know if they got it. We can beat anybody in this league and we’ve shown that and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

Said Baker, “That was a tough one to lose, but it gives you something to keep fighting for and let’s you know what you can do — that you’re never out of a game.”

Albert Pujols broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth, snapping an 0 for 10 in the series, with a home run, but he isn’t the guy who did in the Reds.

“The guy who hurt us was Chris Duncan — he came through in the clutch twice,” said Baker. “He got a big hit against Daniel Ray Herrera, a run-scoring single in seventh (that made it 6-4) and that double off Volquez in the third (for two runs). He’s a clutch guy, along with Pujols, and they clutched us.”

Now the Reds are Westward, Ho, for a six-game series in Phoenix and San Diego — and going west has not been good for the Reds in the past, young man.

Said Baker, “I never worried about going west because that’s where I live and I look forward to going there. There are a lot of distractions out west, especially in San Diego. We have to urge the team we’re on a business trip and not a pleasure trip and to take care of business.”

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