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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2010 > June > 01 > Entry
This one was like a playoff game
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS while puffing through three cigars in the Man Cave watching the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals play a regular season early-June game as if it were a one-game playoff for the National League Central championship:
The Reds won, 9-8, but it was a chore that showed their resiliency and spirit. They led, 3-0, after the top of the first, but Johnny Cueto, who didn’t have it, gave up three in the bottom of the first.
They led, 7-3, only to see the Cardinals barge back to take an 8-7 lead. Then they rescued it, 9-8.
SO HOW important is it to have Joey Votto in the lineup, despite what Miguel Cairo did during his six game stand-in for Votto? Votto swung at the first pitch he saw Tuesday for a single. Votto had four hits - FOUR HITS - including a home run and a triple after sitting out six games.
SO HOW important is it that the Reds acquired third baseman Scott Rolen? He hit a three-run homer in the first and another homer in his second at-bat and then later hit a double.
SO HOW import is it that the Reds re-signed Jonny Gomes early in spring training when nobody else wanted him, including the Reds after last season? Gomes, given a bad rap sheet as a defensive player, threw a runner out a home plate early in the game. Important? One run that early? Well, the Reds won by one, didn’t they? And Gomes drove in the tying run (8-8) in the seventh inning.
SO HOW important is it that the Reds keep putting the ball in the hands of 40-year-old Arthur Rhodes in critical situations? He pitched the seventh and the Cardinals loaded the bases but he struck out right-handed pinch-hitter Nick Stavinoha.
SO HOW important is that GM Walt Jocketty recognized a need for a veteran shortstop with playoff experience and signed Orlando Cabrera? And how important is it that manager Dusty Baker made an early-season switch and moved Cabrera to lead-off? He contributed a two-out, two-run double in the fourth inning.
This game took more twists and turns than a country road in West Virginia, with no rest stops.
IT WAS A two-game shift. Had the Reds lost, they would have fallen a game out of first place. Instead, they reclaimed a one-game lead and can’t leave St. Louis with worse than a tie. It is a toughie Wednesday night - rookie Sam LeCure against Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter.
Cairo hit .429 for the six games Votto sat with a stiff neck, but Votto is Votto is Votto, as he proved Tuesday. With one out in the first, Brandon Phillips singled and Votto lashed a single to right. Rolen then hit his 12th homer for a 3-0 lead.
But Colby Rasmus hit a home run in the bottom of the first to tie it, 3-3.
UNDAUNTED (what’s that mean, anyway?), the Reds took a 5-3 lead in the third when Votto homered and Rolen followed him with a homer, his 13th of the season. For those counting, Rolen has one more home run than Albert Pujols.
Then the Reds made it 7-3 in the fourth when Orlando Cabrera poked a two-out, two-run double.
Cueto, though, wasn’t up to protecting the 7-3 lead, just as he wasn’t up to protecting the 3-0 lead. He walked Matt Holliday on four pitches to open the sixth and paid dearly. Three straight hits later and Cueto was shower-bound.
Rookie Enerio Del Rosario was recalled Tuesday from Indianapolis along with Logan Ondrusek (Carlos Fisher was sent back to Louisville and Mike Lincoln was placed on the DL with a sore shoulder).
Del Rosario recorded two quick outs, but Brendan Ryan, after faking a two-out bunt, pulled a two-run double to left to make it 8-7, Cardinals.
Die? Roll over? Play dead?
Not this year’s Reds. Former Cincinnati relief pitcher Dennys (Big Sweat) Reyes came on in the 7th, a left-handed specialist because the Reds had Votto and Jay Bruce coming up early in the inning. Votto singled to lead the inning. Rolen, a right-hander, amazingly struck out on a pitch in the dirt. Bruce, batting .196 and seemingly helpless against left-handers, poked a single to left.
Gomes tied it with a single to right and Drew Stubbs provided the winning run with a sacrifice fly.
MUCH-MALIGNED Nick Masset and much-more-maligned closer Francisco Cordero finished it off, but they put lumps in Baker’s throat.
Masset recorded the first two outs in the eighth, then put two on with on before striking out Rasmussen.
Cordero gave up a leadoff single in the ninth to David Freese, but Brandon Phillips and Cabrera turned a lightning double play on fleet Jon Jay.
And it ended spectacularly. Chris Heisey was in left field in the ninth and pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick hit one to him. Heisey broke back. The ball was shallow. He slipped starting in, then made a diving catch to end it.
How else could a game like this end?
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By Steven Ross
June 2, 2010 3:02 PM | Link to this
I agree with red demon regarding “sweating” it out with Masset and Cordero. In Rhodes I trust but the other two make me very nervous. Let’s take tonight’s game against one of the best pitchers in the NL and make an even bigger statement.
By jim t
June 2, 2010 2:48 PM | Link to this
This game reminded be of a couple of boxers going at it.Dusty and the boys will battle you for the entire game. Rapidly approaching 57. I must admit, it gets harder and harder to stay up for a whole game. This one, I had no problem staying awake.If we can avoid injuries it could be a fun summer at the ball park.Its apparent the players have bought in. How about Stubbs and Gomes beating those throws to 2nd base. Everyone is trying to do the little things. I wouldn’t think of missing the game tonight. Seems the fans are coming around as well 100,000 for the 3 games with the stros. Unbeleivable!
By mamapo
June 2, 2010 10:41 AM | Link to this
As I said, I agree he had every right to be ticked. I was screaming from my seat as well. We’ll just have to disagree on the language thing. Adult, kid, male, female - I don’t like to hear anyone using vulgar language. Doesn’t mean you can’t express yourself - I just think there are better ways to do it. That being said, you can bet I’ll be watching tonight. :)
By jeff
June 2, 2010 10:33 AM | Link to this
Mamapo: I cant really agree with the language thing. That part of it these guys are adults. If Kids can lip read those words then they already know what it is anyways. Votto had every right to be mad that YUmp called him out earlier and the Reds pitchers werent getting the same calls. The Ump knew it too or else he would have run Votto
By mamapo
June 2, 2010 9:37 AM | Link to this
goredlegs: I also think Joey Votto had every right to be angry - and I like seeing the spark in our team. However I don’t think that emotion has to = vulgar language no matter what your age.
By dude
June 2, 2010 9:08 AM | Link to this
When they showed the slo motion of the homer that Rolen hit, I watched his face instead of the ball. His eyes got as big a quarters. He had that ball the second it left the pitchers hand. Young Mr. LeCure has got to pitch the game of his life tonight if they expect to get out of there with the div. lead. Miller is gonna catch him, maybe that will be a boost.
By red demon
June 2, 2010 8:51 AM | Link to this
they should nickname the reds bull pen BIG SWEAT. they sure make us fans sweat every game out to the very last out.
By Mike-Cinci
June 2, 2010 6:59 AM | Link to this
Great game! Great writing by Hal! I imagine the Cardinals faithful are questioning some of Tony LaRussa’s moves last night.
By cb
June 2, 2010 5:12 AM | Link to this
Hal, Reading your blog this morning was like going back forty years. It is great to have the wonderment again to care if the Reds won or lost. 40 years ago as a Journal Hearald paperboy, the first thing I would do was to read your story ‘bout the Reds from the previous day. Go Big Red Machine!
By Believe It
June 2, 2010 2:33 AM | Link to this
Well, Cabrera finally played like he “used to” at SS. First time this year he has made all the plays:circled two slowly hit ground balls, making good throws to first for the outs/turned nice double plays/showed good arm strength/actually took three steps to his left and right to field a ground ball, and threw out a runner. I was finally impressed with the “young man”. Oh, and continued to hit nicely and timely! However, it must be pointed out to Hal that Dusty gets all of his good ideas from the blog: At least a week prior to Dusty moving Orlando to the leadoff position, Worn Cleat had already suggested the move! “Day late Dusty” is a slow reader, apparently.With a speed reading course prior to the playoffs, Dusty could benefit from reading the blog.Go Reds!
By Dennis
June 2, 2010 2:05 AM | Link to this
Hi Hal…thanks for your insightful and entertaining writing. I am in New Mexico and your writing and the internet radio are my way of staying abreast of my favorite team. I appreciate your writing, thank you!
By goredlegs
June 2, 2010 1:11 AM | Link to this
Votto had every right to be pissed, and we should all be glad that he was. An angry Votto= a nightmare for the other team. And besides he’s an adult talking to other adults.
By goredlegs
June 2, 2010 1:11 AM | Link to this
Votto had every right to be pissed, and we should all be glad that he was. An angry Votto= a nightmare for the other team. And besides he’s an adult talking to other adults.
By Mamapo
June 2, 2010 12:20 AM | Link to this
Welcome back Joey Votto! I do wish the players would find some other way to express frustration instead of dropping the “f” word, which is easily “readable” even when we can’t hear it. Come ‘on guys - kids are watching you! Clean up your act and get some class.