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StumbleuponREDS 5, NATIONALS 3
Phillips provides fireworks in Reds' win
Thursday, July 03, 2008
CINCINNATI — It was a game that presumably meant nothing, an entertainment prelude before a fireworks show — two teams of tired and poor and huddled masses yearning to dig out of last place in their respective divisions with teaspoons.
The Cincinnati Reds prevailed over the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Thursday, July 3, rallying from two runs down to tie it, then scoring two in the seventh to take the lead.
All five Reds runs scored with two outs, including a two-run single in the seventh down the right-field line by Brandon Phillips that broke a 3-3 tie.
"Love those two-out hits, those are the best," said manager Dusty Baker. "We're due to get a lot more of them because we haven't been very good at it."
The two runs made Cincinnati starter Johnny Cueto the winner after he left for pinch-hitter Corey Patterson in the seventh.
Patterson reached second on a drag bunt and first baseman Dmitri Young's error. When Jerry Hairston Jr. singled, Patterson should have scored the go-ahead run, but he slipped in wet grass rounding third and went down, unable to score.
The Nationals walked Jeff Keppinger intentionally, filling the bases and preferring to face Ken Griffey Jr. It worked. Griffey popped up for the second out.
Phillips, though, saved Patterson, saved Griffey and saved the win for Cueto with his two-run drive down the right-field line.
"I was just trying to come through," said Phillips, who had three hits. "I hit it, but I didn't get all of it. Good placement. Hitting them where people aren't."
Of Patterson's slip, Phillips said, "It was funny to me, just crazy because he was busting his butt. So I'm glad we picked him up and we picked up Cueto."
Said Baker of Patterson's fall, "We haven't been going too good and when Corey slipped down on the wet surface, I said to myself, 'Oh, no.'"
As in, "Here we go again."
Cueto (7-8) held the Nationals to three runs and seven hits over seven innings, walking only one and striking out eight. And he said he had more confidence than usual.
"When I warmed up in the bullpen I had all my pitches and I was not afraid to throw any pitch in any count," said Cueto. "I was working ahead in the count and my location was great. My concentration was better and I had that confidence."
Washington starter John Lanahan retired the first seven Reds, but then walked David Ross and it cost him a run.
Cueto bunted him to second and Ross scored on Hairston's two-out single for a 1-0 lead.
Cueto retired the first nine Nats, then four straight reached base with one out in the fourth and two scored, one on Elijah Dukes' double and the other on former Reds outfielder Austin Kearns' single.
Dukes made it 3-1 in the sixth with a leadoff home run.
"The only guy Johnny had trouble with was Elijah Dukes," said Baker. "But he threw the ball well and one walk and eight strikeouts? A great night at the ballpark."
The Reds tied it 3-3 in the sixth with three straight two-out hits, singles by Phillips and Joey Votto scoring runs, then Phillips saved the day in the seventh, paving the way for the fireworks.
Phillips also started a double play in the eighth after the Nationals put two on with no out and threatened to snatch it back.
Granted, it was slew-footed Young running, but it was a difficult 4-6-3 double play from Phillips to Jeff Keppinger to Joey Votto.
"That was big of Brandon to get the two-out hit to get Cueto the win and a big double play — Brandon played a great game," said Baker. "The double play on Dmitri looked like an impossible play. We played some very fine defense tonight."
Today's game
Who: Nationals (Bergmann 1-5) at Reds (Arroyo 5-7)
When: 1:15 p.m.
Radio: WONE-AM (980)
TV: FSN Ohio
