The Cincinnati Reds pulled out a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in 11 innings on Tuesday evening.  Jeff Keppinger hit a game winning double that scored Jay Bruce for the game winning run as the Reds evened up the series at one game each.

Paul Bako got the Reds scoring started in the 6th inning with a two run single and then Joey Votto added a rbi single in the inning as well.  The Reds didn’t score again until the Keppinger rbi double that was the game winner in the 11th inning.

Red starting pitcher Johnny Cueto got the no decision as he only lasted six innings.  Cueto was pulled after giving up four hits and three runs.  He did strikeout ten batters while nly walking three however.  Mike Lincoln tossed two innings in relief while  Jeremy Affeldt, Bill Bray, and Gary Majewski all pitched one inning of relief.  Majewski picked up the win and is now 1-0.

Good come from behind win for the Reds as they were able to even up the series.  Reds Blog

Aaron Harang struggled on the mound as he only lasted 4 1/3 innings and the Cincinnati Reds lost to the Chicago Cubs by the score of 7-3.  Harang fell to 3-11 on the season as he gave up five hits and six runs including two home runs.  Definately not the way the Reds wanted to kick off their three game series with the Cubs.

Jeremy Affeldt also gave up one run in relief of Harang.  Gary Majewski pitched the seventh and eighth inning and only allowed one hit and zero runs.

The Reds struggled at the plate until the ninth inning.  They had two singles and a run early in the game off Ryan Dempster but then did not have a hit untl the ninth inning when they had three hits and scored two runs.  Paul Bako walked in the fourth inning with the bases loaded for one rbi.  Javier Valentin had a rbi double in the ninth inning before Jerry Hairston Jr. had a rbi grounded out in the same inning.

The Reds will try to get their first win of the series and tie the series at 1-1 on Wednesday.

Reds Blog

Johnny Cueto duelled Andy Pettite for five innings, but did not come back out after an hour-long rain delay, and the Yankees found the offerings of the Reds bullpen more to their liking, scoring three in the sixth off Gary Majewski and Jeremy Affeldt.  Jason Giambi was 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Yankees.  Ken Griffey Jr. hit a solo homer for the Reds’ only run.  Mariano Rivera pitched the final inning and a third to earn his 21st save of the year.

A bearded Jeff Keppinger, activated before the game, started the game at shortstop, but briefly moved to third when Edwin Encarnacion developed back spasms.  Andy Phillips was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Keppinger.

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

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.