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Phillips: Swept Reds ‘better’ than Brewers

Cincinnati Reds' Jerry Hairston Jr. reacts to a strike call against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Jim Prisching/FRE Cincinnati Reds' Jerry Hairston Jr. reacts to a strike call against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 8:26 PM Sunday, May 31, 2009

MILWAUKEE — Brandon Phillips is difficult to convince, even when evidence to the contrary strikes him smack in the face.

The Milwaukee Brewers had just completed an emphatic three-game sweep in Miller Park, completing it with a 5-2 victory Sunday, May 31, but Phillips was defiant as he stood in front of his locker discussing the post mortems of the Cincinnati Reds meltdown.

“I feel we’re a better team than the Brewers,” he said. “We lost because they did the little things and we didn’t do the little things. They’re a good team but this should never have happened.”

What happened? Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 2. Then Milwaukee 9, Cincinnati 5. Then Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 2.

It wasn’t the kind of sendoff the Reds wanted as they headed for a four-game series in St. Louis beginning tonight.

“We have to make sure we don’t take this stuff to St. Louis because if we do it will happen again,” said Phillips. “We’re a good team and this shouldn’t happen. Good teams do the little things to win.”

What didn’t the Reds do?

Well, on Sunday they filled the bases with one out in the second inning and didn’t score. They had two on with one out in the sixth and didn’t score. They stranded 11 runners.

Phillips could talk because he did his part. He homered Saturday. And he homered Sunday.

But when he struck out to end the game against Trevor Hoffman, he was the day’s poster boy for futility. The Reds struck out 14 times and the trend was set early when Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo struck out the side to start the game.

Then Reds starter Micah Owings, winless in his last four starts, gave up two runs in the first, one in the second and a two-run icing-on-the-victory home run in the third to Mike Cameron.

“They executed and that’s why they are in first place,” said Phillips. “We were doing it before we came here and we just weren’t the Reds when we came here. They saw us coming (a half game behind the Brewers) right behind them and they knew somebody had to step their game up — either them or us.”

Phillips paused and said, “It was them. Hey, they’re a good team, but we’re better.”

Now the Reds get to show St. Louis they’re a better team, but four losses won’t prove it.

“Mike Cameron killed us this series, along with Craig Counsell and Ryan Braun,” said manager Dusty Baker. And he forgot Prince Fielder, who homered twice and had four hits in the series.

The Brewers came out of cold storage to score 19 runs on 27 hits in the series after not scoring more than four runs in their previous nine games. Cameron also homered twice

“They were swinging good and didn’t miss any mistakes we made,” said Baker. “And we had plenty of action, runners in scoring position almost every inning.”

And they went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.

The Reds have lost six straight road games — the three-game sweep in San Diego and this one.

Today’s game

Who: Reds at Cardinal

When: 8:05 p.m.

TV: FS Ohio

Radio: WONE-AM (980); WLW-AM (700)

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Sal, you mean never satisfied, like in saying Sotomayer, being second in her class at Princeton University, somehow makes her short changed mentally and unfit for the Supreme Court? These right wing idiots who listen to hypocrite Drugbaugh, need euthanized.

Obama
7:34 PM, 6/1/2009

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Just finished reading the comments from the Brewer's fans on the site referred to by Mark
5:52 AM, 6/1/2009. Good stuff! There is a very noticeable difference in the way those fans comment versus Reds fans on this blog. Brewer's fans seem objective and positive. Red's fans sound like negative attack-dog whiners, kinda like mini Rush Limbbaughs, never happy with anything. Maybe Red's fans take too much Oxycontin like Drugbaugh.

Sal Monella
1:08 PM, 6/1/2009

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That all you still have to say, J Mark? No justification - just not mentally tough? You're an idiot.

Jeff
11:40 AM, 6/1/2009

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Phillips is still trying to jack everything outa the park. Don't care about his HRs during this series. He looks like he isn't wearing spikes @ the plate because he's falling all over himself. Just WTF is he going down to one knee for each time he swings? Bruce is lost, Gonzo can't hold onto the bat, & too many called 3rd strikes taken. & Harang better learn how to hold the leads given him. He just tossing BP up there.

Pete
11:39 AM, 6/1/2009

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My mistake...I meant an Adam Dunn who plays right field. He can't hit a lick unless it's an HR. He looks totally overmatched. Needs a little extra BP. He has a good arm, but what good does that do you at the plate. .229 won't cut it.

Chuck
10:53 AM, 6/1/2009

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