Mike Leake is a starting pitcher, he's not a freakin reliever.

There's nothing more frustrating than watching a team mismanage it's roster. I'd rather see Leake throwing every 5th day in Louisville, this is a waste.

Nice double play but I agree Coop, Leake needs to work on some stuff. For this game in particular, why would you pull a veteran Bray who's pitching lights out for a semi-rookie in Leake who's been pitching horribly against St. Louis's heart of the order.

Count me as one who was pissed when Baker had Phillips bunt before and after seeing the result. I figured Rolen would GIDP, but close enough. Stupid.

(05-13-2011 09:05 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  Count me as one who was pissed when Baker had Phillips bunt before and after seeing the result. I figured Rolen would GIDP, but close enough. Stupid.

Thr sac bunt LOWERS your chances of scoring with even bad hitters at the plate. Taking the bat out of your 2nd best hitter, giving up an out is idiotic. And dusty had so smartly resisted the sac bunt with renteria.

Agreed. Worst case scenario is you have 1st/2nd, one out and Jay Bruce coming to the plate against the right-handed pitcher.

I don't take the bat out of Phillips' hand.

Edit: I guess that assumes Phillips doesn't hit into a DP, but I think that is very unlikely in that situation.

BPties it. Let's win it now

Could Gomes have looked any worse than he did in that at bat?

Gomes is really working his way out of the lineup. I guess we'll start seeing more speed out there in LF in Lewis and Heisey.

Votto!

Huge comeback win tonight. Good message win. Now let's take two more!

Comeback kids!

As Chris just said in the post-game, Renteria did an awesome job getting Votto to the plate.

(05-13-2011 10:23 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  As Chris just said in the post-game, Renteria did an awesome job getting Votto to the plate.

I was just going to post that. The pitches he took for balls 2 and 4 were very close. Good job of fouling off pitches.

I'd like to watch Eduardo Sanchez and Chapman try to play a game of catch.

Bernie Bytes: Cards-Reds, 5 Questions

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist | Posted: Friday, May 13, 2011 4:00 pm

Happy Friday to you ...

As the Cardinals and Reds renew their friendly (ahem) rivalry at The Great American Ball Park, let's have a go at five questions:

1. Will the Reds try to exploit Don Tony's absence? With the ailing Don of Cardinals baseball recuperating from his illness, will the Reds try to take liberties? Will manager Dusty Baker try to test the Cardinals' resolve with intimidation tactics? Will the Reds mess with the baseballs again? They know they'll never get away with that stuff with Tony La Russa in the STL dugout. But with Don Tony recuperating, will the Reds try to muscle up? I'm thinking of the scene in Godfather I, when Sollozzo sends his men to to the hospital to finish off the weakened Don Corleone. Here's the deal: go ahead and try it, Dusty. You think pitching coach Dave Duncan is going to back down from anyone? Duncan is a bigger maniac than TLR. Do you think La Russa's players -- who reflect his toughness -- are going to put up with karate kicks or any other kind of nonsense? Heck, no. And do not underestimate acting manager Joe Pettini, either. The Little General will play hardball.

2. Can the Reds control Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman? Here are a couple of numbers for you. The visiting player with the most home runs at The Great American Ballpark since the yard opened in 2003 is Berkman, with 21 in 183 at-bats. The visiting player with the most RBIs in the ballpark is Berkman, with 55. The visiting player that ranks second at GABP in homers (18) and RBIs (50) is Pujols. They're not alone; Cardinals such as Yadier Molina, Colby Rasmus and Matt Holliday have excellent career numbers in Cincinnati. But no two road players have done as much damage there as Pujols and Berkman. This would be a good time for Pujols to be Pujols. And Berkman has been a bit quiet at the plate in recent days (though still drawing walks) so The Puma soon will go wild.

3. Can the Reds break the Cardinals' hold? St. Louis won 12 of 18 games from Cincinnati last season; that included a 6-3 record at GABP. The Reds have a problem beating good teams. Last season they went 17-33 against teams that finished above .500 and beat up on the losing clubs (66-31). This season, same deal so far. The Reds are 2-4 against teams that currently have a winning record. (The Cardinals are 7-6 against winning teams.) And of the Reds' 20 wins, 11 have come against Houston and Milwaukee meaning that they're 9-13 against everyone else. The Reds already have played Houston nine times, going 6-3. The Cincinnati schedule is about to become more difficult, with series against St. Louis, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Atlanta. I would think it would be good for the inside of the Reds' heads to hold home turf and take a series from the Cardinals.

4. Will Brandon Phillips tweet away and get Cardinals fans all jacked up again? It won't matter because this time he's playing in front of Reds fans. Cardinals fans won't be able to get him going this time. Phillips baited baseball's best fans when the Reds visited St. Louis late last month. The Busch Stadium crowd gave BP the attention he craves by booing. Phillips loved it and showed it by going 4 for 13 with two doubles and a homer. But the thing is, Phillips was harmless against the Cardinals in games played in Cincinnati last season, going 7 for 36 (.194). Perhaps Phillips will need to start some trouble with a Cardinals player to get himself cranked up. All kidding aside, Phillips is having an outstanding season, batting .313 with a .370 OBP and a .458 slug. And he's playing very good defense. The Cardinals will have to keep him quiet in more ways than one.

5. Can Kyle Lohse and Kyle McClellan continue the tradition? Dusty Baker keeps bringing it up, how La Russa set the STL rotation last season to blast the Reds with lots of games against Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia. And TLR did just that; those three started 13 of the 18 games vs. Cincy last season. The Cardinals went 11-2 in the 13 games and went 1-4 when other pitchers started against the Reds. Wainwright, Carpenter and Garcia had a 2.65 ERA against the Reds overall, and went 6-1 with a 3.22 ERA in Cincinnati. Baker seems to be trying to convince himself that Wainwright, Carpenter and Garcia were the main reasons for the Cardinals' edge over the Reds last season. But when the teams met in St. Louis a few weeks ago, the Reds didn't face Wainwright (obviously) or Garcia. And their only series win came against Carpenter, who pitched well in a tough-luck loss. But McClellan got the win in the Friday night game, allowing two runs in six innings. And in the Sunday finale, Jake Westbrook pitched six shutout innings for the win. This weekend the Reds will see (in order) Lohse, McClellan and Carpenter. The two Kyles are a combined 9-2 so far. But this will be a test for Lohse and McClellan this weekend, pitching in a hitter-haven ballpark that allows a lot of cheap home runs. Lots of ground balls should help the cause.

Thanks for reading ... and have a great weekend.

-Bernie

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/b...f6878.html

Reds overcome early deficit, beat Cardinals in 10

Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Joey Votto's two-out, run-scoring single in the 10th inning completed the Cincinnati Reds' rally to a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night that tightened the NL Central.

With 32,972 fans waving white rally towels and chanting "MVP," the National League MVP came through against Jason Motte (1-1), driving home Chris Heisey from second base.

The Reds overcame a 5-2 deficit in the late innings. Brandon Phillips' single off Eduardo Sanchez tied it in the ninth, and Votto kept the Reds perfect in four extra-inning games this season.

Francisco Cordero (3-1) pitched out of a two-on threat in the ninth, striking out Jon Jay to keep it tied.

The defending NL Central champions moved within a half-game of the first-place Cardinals.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310513117

Reds overtake Cards in 10
Votto drives in the winning run
11:18 PM, May. 13, 2011


The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II
Fred Lewis is tagged out at home by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the third inning. Lewis was thrown out by shortstop Tyler Greene when he tried to score from third on a ground ball by Drew Stubbs.

Written by
Tom Groeschen
tgroeschen@enquirer.com

CINCINNATI -- The fans and media chattered about The Brawl and the rivalry and all that fun stuff. In the end, the Reds and Cardinals simply treated a Great American Ball Park crowd of 32,972 to a fair baseball game.

Joey Votto’s two-out, run-scoring single in the 10th inning completed the Reds’ rally to a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night that tightened the NL Central.

With 32,972 fans waving white rally towels and chanting “MVP,” the National League MVP came through against Jason Motte (1-1), driving home Chris Heisey from second base.

The Reds overcame a 5-2 deficit in the late innings. Brandon Phillips’ single off Eduardo Sanchez tied it in the ninth, and Votto kept the Reds perfect in four extra-inning games this season.

Francisco Cordero (3-1) pitched out of a two-on threat in the ninth, striking out Jon Jay to keep it tied.

The defending NL Central champions moved within a half-game of the first-place Cardinals.

The Reds lost two of three at St. Louis in the clubs’ first series this year, April 22-24 at Busch Stadium.

With the Reds down 5-4 entering their final at-bat, Cincinnati fans stood, yelled and waved white rally towels during the home ninth.

Edgar Renteria walked to lead off the inning, and went to second on a wild pitch by Cards reliever Eduardo Sanchez. Joey Votto then grounded out to first, with Renteria taking third base.

Brandon Phillips, Public Enemy No. 1 to Cardinals fans after his brawl-inciting comments last August, was up next. Phillips singled to center to tie it 5-5.

Scott Rolen, activated from the disabled list earlier Friday, then singled to left and Phillips went to third base. Pinch hitter Jonny Gomes then struck out, and the game went to extra innings.

Francisco Cordero held St. Louis scoreless in the top of the 10th inning.

It was the Cardinals’ first trip to Cincinnati since last August, when the teams had a bench-clearing brawl.

The Reds trailed 5-2 entering their seventh inning, but then rallied against Cards reliever Miguel Batista. Chris Heisey began the inning with a single, and Drew Stubbs walked. Renteria then doubled down the left-field line, with Heisey and Stubbs both scoring to make it 5-4.

Trever Miller then relieved for St. Louis. Miller walked Joey Votto, and Cards acting manger Joe Pettini then summoned Fernando Salas to pitch. Brandon Phillips then sacrificed (Renteria to third, Votto to second), and Jay Bruce was then walked intentionally to load the bases with one out.

Rolen was up next, and he popped out to second. Miguel Cairo then pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot, and he flied to center to end the inning.

Rolen (left shoulder) was activated Friday from the disabled list, and made his first appearance since April 20. Rolen had three hits, including an RBI double.

The Reds also left the bases full in the fifth inning, when Renteria struck out swinging (on a full count) to end the inning.

The Reds entered Friday having won six of their last eight games.

Bronson Arroyo held St. Louis hitless through three innings, then started getting hit in the fourth.


Associated Press/Al Behrman
Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo talks with catcher Ryan Hanigan during the Cardinals' three-run fourth inning. Arroyo gave up four runs in six innings.

St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, when Matt Holiday lined an RBI double off of the left-field wall. Lance Berkman made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly, and David Descalso made it 3-0 with an RBI double to right.

Descalso made it 4-0 in the sixth, with an RBI single.

The Reds broke through in their sixth inning off of Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse. Lohse, a former Red, entered Friday’s start with a 4-2 record and 2.24 ERA this season.

Votto doubled to lead off the sixth. A Brandon Phillips groundout got Votto to third, and Votto scored on an infield single by Bruce. An RBI double by Rolen cut the Reds’ deficit to to 4-2.

St. Louis built its lead to 5-2 in the seventh, when Bill Bray and Mike Leake relieved.

Bray allowed a walk and a forceout, at which point Leake came in. Albert Pujols singled, and then Matt Holliday singled home Colby Rasmus to make it 5-2.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110...eakingnews

Not just another W
12:07 am, May 14, 2011 by tgroeschen

Just another win? Not to Joey Votto, whose 10th-inning walk-off single lifted the Reds to a 6-5 win over NL Central rival St. Louis on Friday night.

The Reds moved within a half-game of the Cardinals for the division lead, with St. Louis in town through Sunday. While some Reds have said the Cardinals are just another series, Votto said it does indeed mean more to win such a game against high-profile St. Louis.

“Of course, yeah,” Votto said. “Certainly. They’re the No. 1 team in our division. Whether or not you want to use the word ‘rivalry,’ they’re a very tough team for us to face on a consistent basis. I have nothing but respect for that team, and I think that’s the way we feel in general in this clubhouse.”

The Reds were euphoric after the comeback win, after trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning. It was the Reds’ seventh win in their last nine games.

“I think games like this mean a lot to the team in general,” Votto said. “To have been down, come back late, tie it up and win in extra innings. Being in their bullpen was a big deal for us also.”

In the end, Votto won it with a line-drive single through the hole between first and second base. The two-out hit, off of Jason Motte, scored Chris Heisey from second base. As Heisey raced home, Reds players happily rushed from their dugout to mob Votto behind first base.

The fans and media had chattered about last year’s brawl, the rivalry, and whether this was a “statement” series for the Reds. In the end, the Reds and Cardinals simply treated a Great American Ball Park crowd of 32,972 to a pretty fair baseball game.

“If that’s a prelude of what’s to come, we’ve sure got some exciting baseball coming this weekend,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

– Standing Room Only tickets at $10 each are now on sale for Saturday’s 4:10 p.m. game, the Reds announced.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/05...another-w/

Redbirds unravel late

Reds 6, Cardinals 5 • Cincinnati ties the score in the ninth, gets winner in the 10th.

BY JOE STRAUSS • jstrauss@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8371 | Posted: Saturday, May 14, 2011 12:15 am


(AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto reacts after getting a hit off St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 13, 2011 in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 6-5.

CINCINNATI • Nothing simple occurs inside Great American Ball Park. Absolutely nothing.

Able to take a four-run lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals couldn't make it hold against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night after a series of late mistakes that forced the game into extra innings, where the Reds ultimately won 6-5.

A night that opened with simmering controversy over a radio rights-holder's impolitic ad ended with Reds first baseman and reigning National League MVP Joey Votto driving a two-out, 10th-inning single against Jason Motte. The loss left the Cardinals with their ninth blown save of the season, frustration over missed chances at the plate and their NL Central lead cut to one-half game.

"It was good clean baseball the way it's supposed to be played by two really good teams, and there's going to be a lot more games like that between us and the Reds," acting manager Joe Pettini said.

The Cardinals would prefer a different outcome.

The Reds placed their leadoff hitter on base the last six innings. Each of five Cardinal relievers issued a walk.

Of the bullpen's five walks, two ended as runs. A wild pitch put the eventual tying run into scoring position in the ninth inning. After holding the Reds to three hits through four innings, the Cardinals surrendered 10 in the final six.

"It was a tough game for us to lose, a good game for them to win," Pettini said.

The Cardinals received three hits from left fielder Matt Holliday and two RBIs from Holliday and third baseman Daniel Descalso. The top four spots in the batting order reached base 11 times against Reds starter Bronson Arroyo and four relievers. However, the Cardinals failed to deliver a game-breaker after scoring one run and loading the bases in the seventh inning. Catcher Yadier Molina bounced into a 1-2-3 double play. The Cardinals didn't score the rest of the night.

"That kind of hurt," Pettini said. "Right there, if you get a sacrifice fly or a base hit that opens it up a little bit."

Instead, the Cardinals suffered their third loss when leading after eight innings and for the eighth time in an opponent's final at-bat.

Votto struck out in his first two at-bats but doubled before scoring the Reds' first run in the sixth inning. He walked in a 10-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning and then won an extended battle with Motte in the 10th.

Motte walked shortstop Edgar Renteria on a full count to reach Votto. Motte thought he made the pitch but didn't receive the call. Having to face Votto was hardly a welcome consolation present.

"He's pretty good. He's not exactly a Little Leaguer," Motte said.

Kyle Lohse, who entered with a 2.24 ERA and left with his seventh consecutive quality start, had hoped to push through at least seven innings but was undone by a two-run sixth that stretched his pitch count to 99. Votto's leadoff double, right fielder Jay Bruce's RBI single and third baseman Scott Rolen's drive over right fielder Lance Berkman halved the lead to 4-2.

"I needed a quick inning there. I didn't get it," said Lohse, who didn't come out for the seventh inning.

Lohse wasn't alone in failing to reach the seventh inning.

An advertiser on radio rights-holder WLW played off manager Tony La Russa's four-week affliction by offering to give away "Tony La Russa shingles." The Internet ad for an area roofer drew no formal protest from the Cardinals but didn't escape the notice of Reds chairman Bob Castellini, a former Cardinals minority shareholder.

Castellini said via a statement that he thought the giveaway ad "in bad taste and does not reflect the spirit of respectful competition the Reds and our fans have toward Tony La Russa and the Cardinals."

Castellini added that he was "disappointed" at the station's action. The ad quickly came down.

Miguel Batista followed Lohse and failed to retire any of three hitters. He left after Renteria drove a two-run double that pulled the Reds within 5-4. Trever Miller made his first appearance since May 5 and walked Votto in a 10-pitch confrontation. Only a stand by Fernando Salas allowed the Cardinals to escape with a lead as he froze a one-out, bases-loaded situation with a pop out and a line drive to center field.

Pettini turned to rookie Eduardo Sanchez for the final three outs but watched as a leadoff walk of Renteria, a wild pitch and second baseman Brandon Phillips' flare to left-center field tied the game.

Since his eye-popping play in April, Sanchez has labored with his command. Friday marked his eighth consecutive appearance with a walk. In his last eight appearances he has walked 10 against eight strikeouts. The trend is enough for pitching coach Dave Duncan to weigh another switch in closers, this time to Salas or Mitchell Boggs.

Sanchez has "got the stuff but he's still got to get his feet wet a little bit more and gain some more confidence," Pettini said. "He's a really good pitcher but he's trying to learn in the toughest spot there is in a game: in the ninth inning. If he can just eliminate the walks."

"I'm being aggressive," Sanchez said. "Things just haven't turned out the way I want. But I'm being aggressive."

Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo failed to navigate the heart of the Cardinals' order for a second time as center fielder Colby Rasmus and first baseman Albert Pujols primed a fourth-inning rally before Holliday scalded the first of his three hits. Holliday's double off the left field wall scored Rasmus to break a scoreless tie before Berkman interrupted a 0-for-12 skid with a sacrifice fly.

Descalso extended a reputation for being the right man at the right time when he forged a 3-0 lead with a double to right field.

The Cardinals offered Lohse important insurance in the sixth inning after Phillips' throwing error turned a potential double play into an extra base for Molina.

Again Descalso provided a pivotal swing by lining a single into center field to score Molina. The unearned run proved critical when followed by a bullpen stumble. However, it did not make the game fail-safe.

"You never think a lead is safe. Maybe if you're up 12-1 or something like that, but not four runs, not against this team in this park," Holliday said.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/...d0733.html

Reds lineup
1:04 pm, May 14, 2011 by jfay

Drew Stubbs cf

Paul Janish ss

Joey Votto 1b

Brandon Phillips 2b

Jay Bruce rf

Scott Rolen 3b

Jonny Gomes lf

Ramon Hernandez c

Johnny Cueto p

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/05...ineup-117/

What exactly does it take for Dusty to start giving more opportunities to Heisey/Lewis in LF? I like Gomes but he isn't getting it done and isn't looking good in the process. But he's back in the lineup - against a RHP no less.

Being reported that Arredondo is up and Leake is sent down (presumably and hopefully to start). Good move imo.

Obviously I don't love what we are getting from Volquez, but I give him a little longer to get straightened out in the rotation.

My leash on Chapman is tighter though. Kid is young and needs innings. I don't see how we could run him out there in a pressure situation right now, so we're left waiting for a blowout in the majors rather than letting him work things out as a starter in AAA. Price deserves some trust so maybe he thinks he can turn Chapman back around quickly - but I hope he's ready to adapt if that doesn't happen.

(05-14-2011 01:39 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  What exactly does it take for Dusty to start giving more opportunities to Heisey/Lewis in LF? I like Gomes but he isn't getting it done and isn't looking good in the process. But he's back in the lineup - against a RHP no less.

Being reported that Arredondo is up and Leake is sent down (presumably and hopefully to start). Good move imo.

Obviously I don't love what we are getting from Volquez, but I give him a little longer to get straightened out in the rotation.

My leash on Chapman is tighter though. Kid is young and needs innings. I don't see how we could run him out there in a pressure situation right now, so we're left waiting for a blowout in the majors rather than letting him work things out as a starter in AAA. Price deserves some trust so maybe he thinks he can turn Chapman back around quickly - but I hope he's ready to adapt if that doesn't happen.

Lewis probably isn't starting because McClellan has been very tough on LH hitters the last few years. No idea why Gomes would start over Heisey though. Defense alone is the difference maker.