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Gomes propels Reds to win

He’s put into lineup when Nix can’t go and comes up with tying and winning hits — off right-handed pitchers.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, July 19, 2009, in Cincinnati.

David Kohl/FRE Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, July 19, 2009, in Cincinnati.

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 7:56 AM Monday, July 20, 2009

The Cincinnati Reds are in Los Angeles and might want to check out the Hollywood Bowl, the La Brea Tar Pits and/or Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Going to Dodger Stadium is a waste of time and effort. The Reds haven’t won a game there in four years and are 0-9 over the last three seasons.

They completed a four-game homestand Sunday with a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and lugged a 2-2 record since the All-Star break to the west coast.

Before Sunday’s game, Jonny Gomes checked the lineup card, playfully pointed to his name, and said, “Jonny Gomes? What’s he doing in there?”

What he did was win the game, breaking a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with a two-run home run. And he put the Reds into a 3-3 tie in the third with a run-scoring single after Prince Fielder’s two-run homer off Jonny Cueto, Fielder’s 24th, gave Milwaukee a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning.

Gomes was somewhat serious when he saw the lineup card and asked why he was on it because Milwaukee started right-hander Yovani Gallardo, “And I don’t start against right-handers for this team,” said Gomes.

Why Sunday?

Because left-hander Laynce Nix, originally in the lineup, showed up with a stiff back and Gomes was a quick replacement.

“Now it’s off to Mannytown,” said Gomes, referring to LA and Manny Ramirez.

Of his team’s La-La Land failures, Baker said, “That’s OK. Law of averages. But first we had to fight for our lives today — it was a fight and a struggle. We’re scratching and clawing and digging.”

Chris Dickerson led off the eighth with a single and Gomes was facing relief pitcher Seth McClung, who was a starter for Tampa Bay when Gomes was there.

“Known him a long time,” said Gomes. “You know what to expect, since Day One — power arm with a big slider.”

Gomes admits it bothers him to be classified as a guy who can’t hit right-handers and said, “Yeah, it definitely does. I hit all the way up through the minors. I don’t think I’ve been labeled that, but it’s a role I’ve been thrown into and I’d love to hit my way out of it.”

His single was off a right-hander and his home run was off a right-hander. Proof enough?

Baker played for the Dodgers in the 1970s, when it was the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds arguing yearly for the NL West title (there was no NL Central).

“I haven’t had many fond memories as a manager returning to LA,” said Baker. “I’m just going to try to recapture some of those good memories as a player.

“It’s always fun going back home because I was born 50 miles east of there (Riverside). I have a lot of homeboys and it seems like they’ve multiplied. Used to be 100 and they have kids and grandkids and it’s 400,” Baker added.

Of the mission to break the 0-9 streak, Baker said, “We have to rise to the occasion. They’ve beaten us pretty good. We’ve certainly got some work to do.”

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You'll need to wait until next year, Wiz. And, remember, this year's numbers are the only numbers that matter.

timb
12:01 AM, 7/21/2009

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Gomes has a better average than Nix does vs righties/He has .114 higher OBP than Nix vs righties/he is .173 higher OPS than Nix vs Righties. When does Dimwit get fired?

Wizard
10:00 PM, 7/20/2009

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Gomes has shown for years that he is not a .300 hitter. Do you think he was hatched from an egg in April? He has five years of MLB experience and at every stop has hit less than .250 (except 2005). He is what he is, a source of power off the bench. As such, he is a career .273 hitter off of lefties and a career .223 hitter off righties. His slugging percentage versus lefties is 100 points higher!

Dusty's managing him correcting. He CANNOT hit righties.

timb
12:20 PM, 7/20/2009

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All ya have to do to see how effective idiot Baker's tactics are is look at the Reds record. All his lefty righty genius crap. And Baker's stupid comments about playing the hot bat -- he lies as much as team owner & veggie peddler George W. Bushstellini.

BrarHopper
11:52 AM, 7/20/2009

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Yeah notice the words Gomes used to answer the question about being in the lineup against righties? "... not on this ream...". It's time Baker knocked off the lefty-righty crap. Play the .300+ hitters, period. The Reds have a pitiful offense as it is, at least the top hitters need to play every day.

Jack Beggs
10:52 AM, 7/20/2009

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