Kevin Youkilis and Coco Crisp hit back-to-back homers in the top of the tenth to beat Mike Lincoln and the Reds, 6-4.  Edwin Encarnacion had sent the game into extra innings with a two-out, two-strike, bottom-of-the ninth homer off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.  Earlier solo homers by Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips, and a pinch-hit RBI single by Javier Valentin, accounted for the rest of the Reds runs.  Tim Wakefield and Edinson Volquez, the starting pitchers, duelled for seven innings before turning the game over to the bullpens.

Before the game, Danny Herrera was sent back to Louisville when Gary Majewski was reinstated from the bereavement list.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an improvement over OPS.

Bronson Arroyo pitched six shutout innings and hit a solo homer, David Ross got Edwin Encarnacion home with a perfectly-executed suicide squeeze, and Brandon Phillips hit a bases-loaded triple to provide the final margin and get reliever Jared Burton his third win of the season.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.

With two out in the bottom of the ninth, Reds closer Francisco Cordero surrendered a 3-run walkoff home run to former Red Cody Ross, as the Marlins beat the Reds 8-7.  It was Ross’s 11th homer of the season, and Cordero’s third blown save.  Another ex-Red, Jorge Cantu, also hit his 11th of the year.  Luis Gonzalez also homered and drove in three runs for the Fish.

Andy Phillips, who started at third base in place of an injured Edwin Encarnacion, drove in three runs for the Reds with a bases loaded double.  Table-setters Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jay Bruce had two hits apiece, and Adam Dunn homered for the Reds, his 16th of the year.  Bronson Arroyo struggled through four and two-thirds but did not figure in the decision.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS. 

Phillies right-hander Adam Eaton frustrated Reds hitters for six and two-thirds innings, Chase Utley drove in yet another run, Pat Burrell hit his 14th homer of the year, and Brad Lidge earned his 15th save as the Phillies beat the Reds for the second night in a row, 3-2.

Aaron Harang pitched credibly for the Reds but was once again the victim of poor run support.  Edwin Encarnacion appeared to have finally hit his way out of his extended slump, hitting a solo homer and a triple, and scoring both Reds runs.  Ryan Freel singled, stole a base, made a run-saving catch, threw a bat into the crowd, and suffered a hamstring injury.  Diminutive screw-balling lefty Danny Herrera made an impressive debut for the Reds, striking out Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell with the bases loaded.  Herrera was called up before the game, when Kent Mercker was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.

Bronson Arroyo threw batting practice to the Phillies for four and one-third innings, giving up five earned runs on ten hits, suffering his fifth loss of the season.  Kyle Kendrick  wasn’t much better for the Phils, giving up four Reds runs on five hits in five and one-third, but neither bullpen gave up a run the rest of the way, with Brad Lidge closing it out for his 14th save.

Jay Bruce and Edwin Encarnacion hit solo homers for the Reds, and Adam Dunn had a clutch two-out, two-run double to draw the Reds within one, but that was all they would get.  Encarnacion got the Reds out of a bases-loaded jam with a tag-em-out, throw-em-out double play.  Ryan Freel, Brandon Phillips, and David Ross hooked up to nail Chase Utley, who had run through a stop sign, at the plate.  (Freel was in center because Ken Griffey Jr. sat out the game due to soreness.)  It was Utley’s only misstep of the night, however.  He had three hits, including his 21st home run of the year, and made diving catches of two Reds line drives.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.

Ex-Red Phil Dumatrait struck out a career-high nine of his former teammates, giving up only one unearned run in seven innings (also a career high) as the Pirates beat the Reds 7-2, snapping a nine-game home winning streak by the Reds.

Aaron Harang, coming off his masterful emergency-relief appearance in Sunday’s game, struggled with both his velocity and his location, giving up six runs on ten hits in only four innings, the big blow being a two-run shot by Jason Bay, his 13th of the year.  Harang’s successor, Jeremy Affeldt, was greeted rudely by Xavier Nady, who hit his ninth on the first pitch of the fifth inning.

Jerry Hairston Jr. celebrated his 32nd birthday with a bunt single, a double and a run scored, but was doubled off second in the ninth inning on a line drive to the right fielder, a base-running mistake that was magnified when Brandon Phillips followed with a solo home run, his tenth of the year, off Matt Capps.

Andy Phillips made his first start for the Reds, playing third base in place of the slumping Edwin Encarnacion.  Phillips made a nice defensive play in the fifth, ranging into foul ground and firing across the diamond to nip Jason Michaels at first.

Before the game, Matt Belisle was optioned to Louisville and Kent Mercker came off the DL. Mercker pitched an inning tonight.

Josh Fogg is scheduled to make Saturday’s start in place of Belisle.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.

The Cincinnati Reds knocked out Pittsburgh Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny in the first inning as they scored six first inning runs and then went on to beat the Pirates by the score of 9-1.

David Ross went 2-4 with a two run home run and four rbi in the game.  Joey Votto had two rbi in the game as well as he continues to swing a good bat.  Jerry Hairston Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Edwin Encarnacion all had one rbi in the game to help out.

Bronson Arroyo improved to 4-4 on the season as he pitched six innings to pick up the win.  Arroyo was very good as he only gave up three hits and one run in his six innings of action.  Mike Lincoln, David Weathers, and Bill Bray all pitched a scoreless inning of relief behind Arroyo.  Great job by all four pitchers!

We should also mention that Corey Patterson was sent down to Triple A before the game.

Reds Blog

The Cincinnati Reds struggled at the plate and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers by the score of 4-1 on Tuesday night.  The Reds lone run came in the ninth inning but it was a little bit to late to make up a four run difference.

Matt Belisle took the loss after pitching six innings and giving up seven hits and three runs.  Belisle’s record now stands at 1-4 on the season.  Belisle really needs to turn things around and the throw the ball better and start helping out the team get some wins.

Bill Bray gave up one run as he pitched 1/3 of an inning in relief of Belisle.  Jared Burton was then brought in to finish the seventh inning.  Josh Fogg pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Reds.

The lone run for Reds came in the ninth inning when Edwin Encarnacion singled in Adam Dunn.   A little to late however for the Reds to come back in the game.

Reds Blog

Aaron Harang and Kent Mercker did not have good performances today as they gave up five combined runs as the Reds lost to the Cardinals 5-2.   Harang pitched six innings and gave up seven hits and three runs while Mercker pitched .2 innings in relief of Harang and gave up another two runs.   Harang took the loss and is now 1-4 on the season.

The Reds only scored in one inning and that was the second inning when Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo home run and Ryan Freel had a infield single that scored Joey Votto.  The Reds left 18 men on base while striking out six times and only taking two walks in the game.

The Reds were swept by the Cardinals in the short two game series. - Reds Blog

The Cincinnati Reds scored two runs in each of the third and fourth innings and then held off the St. Louis Cardinals for a 4-3 victory.  A great win for the Reds as the beat the Cardinals and picked up their twelfth win of the season.

Bronson Arroyo picked up his first win of the season as he pitched six innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  Arroyo did strikeout six batters and walked three.  Francisco Cordero picked up his fourth save of the season in the game.

Edwin Encarnacion went 2-4 in the game including two RBI.  Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn both had on RBI as well.  The Reds had more chances to score runs, but they left 18 men on base.  They need to knock those runs in if they want to really make a run in the division.

Reds Blog