The Cincinnati Reds once again struggled at the plate as they were only able to come up with two hit against Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs.  The Reds ended up losing to the Cubs by the score of 5-1 and have now lost the first two games of a three game series to the Cubs.

The one hit that matters was a solo home run by Adam Dunn in the second inning.  The Reds did get another hit in the ninth inning when Jay Bruce reached on a infield single.  The Reds then loaded the bases with two walks before Brandon Phillips popped out to Derrek Lee to end the game.

Johnny Cueto tossed 6 2/3 innings to take the loss.  Cueto is now 7-9 on the season.  He really struggled in the game because he could not throw his off speed pitches for strikes.  The Cubs were sitting back and just hammering the fast ball all night long.  David Weathers tossed the final 1 2/3 innigs of the game.

Reds will look to avoid the sweep on Thursday afternoon.  I don’t like their chances one bit to be honest.

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

The Cincinnati Reds hit three home runs and score five runs but they still lost to the hot hitting Pittsburgh Pirates by the score of 9-5 on Wednesday night.  Jay Bruce hit two home runs and finished the game with four rbi while Adam Dunn connected on a solo home run to chip in with one rbi, but it wasn’t close to be enough to win the game for the Reds.

The Pirates jumped all over starting pitcher Daryl Thompson for eight hits and seven runs in only 4 1/3 innings.  Thompson gave up two home runs and took the loss to fall to 0-2.  Jeremy Affeldt and Bill Bray both gave up one run in their relief appearances.  Not a good day to be a Reds pitcher…

Hopefully the Reds will have better luck on Thursday as they begin a series with the Washington Nationals.

Reds Blog

The Cinciannti Reds rallied twice in the game but they still fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an exciting game by the score of 6-5 on Tuesday evening.  It took 11 innings before the game was finally over after the Pirates scored twice in the 11th while the Reds were only able to score once.

David Weathers was charged with two runs in the 11th inning to take the loss and fall to 2-4 on the season.  Weathers was charged with a rbi when Jack Wilson tripled in a run and the Nate McLouth singled in another run.  Jeff Burton also gave up one run in the tenth inning which the Reds were able to get back in the bottom of the inning.

Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez gave up seven hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings of action to get the no decision.  It was the usual Volquez that we have become accustomed to seeing out there.  Volquez didn’t keep the Reds in the game however, the offense and bullpen just couldn’t quite get things done.

Brandon Phillips went 3-5 in the game with a two run home run as he finished with a game high four rbi.  Jerry Hairston Jr. had the other rbi for the Reds when he singled in the 11th inning to score Jay Bruce.  The Reds left 20 runners on base so they did have their chances to score more runs in the game.

The Reds can still win the series with a victory on Wednesday.  Will they do it?  Leave us a comment and let us know your opinion!  Reds Blog

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a pitch hit walk off home run on Monday night as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates by the score of 4-3.  The dramatic win was very big for the Reds as they were behind the entire game until Griffey Jr. took one swing and ended the game with the two run shot off of Matt Capps.

Jerry Hairston Jr. also added a solo home run in the game and Jay Bruce added a rbi with a fielders choice in the sixth inning.

Aaron Harang started the game for the Reds and threw six innings while giving up seven hits and three runs.  Harang was on the line to take the loss but got saved with the Griffey home run and instead got a no decision in the game.  Francisco Cordero picked up the win for the team and is now 3-1 on the season.  Jeff Burton also tossed one inning of scoreless relief in the eighth inning.

We will have to see if the Reds can carry any momentum over into Tuesday nights game against the Pirates.

Reds Blog

Bronson Arroyo pitched well — in a day game, no less — and Adam Dunn had a memorable game both offensively and defensively, leading the Reds to a winning series and road trip before they head home to face National League opposition.

Dunn may have a few bruises to remember this one by.  In addition to hitting a three-run homer, he was hit by the pitch twice, bowled over catcher Kelly Shoppach on a play at the plate, and collided with the left-field wall while making one of his two fine running catches.  Edwin Encarnacion, returning to the lineup after missing a couple of games with a bad back, also homered for the Reds.

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

Johnny Cueto and the Reds bullpen (notably David Weathers, Jared Burton and Francisco Cordero) shut out the Cleveland Indians to win the vaunted “Ohio Cup”, for whatever that’s worth.  Adam Dunn hit a solo shot in the top of the first, but the big blow was a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double by Paul Bako in the fourth.  Brandon Phillips drove in the final run with a seventh-inning single.

Indians starter Paul Byrd absorbed his ninth loss of the season.

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

After Grady Sizemore shut down a potential Reds uprising with a spectacular catch of an Adam Dunn bid for extra bases, C.C. Sabathia shut down the Reds without further incident.  Sizemore later homered and drove in three Tribal runs.  Daryl Thompson pitched well for the Reds, but got no help from the bullpen, the offense, or the defense.

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

Edinson Volquez suffered through his first subpar outing of the year, giving up seven Blue Jay runs (five earned) in four and one-third innings, while Jesse Litsch stymied the Reds batters, giving up only one run in eight innings pitched.  Scott Rolen homered and drove in three runs for the Jays, while Brandon Phillips drove in the only Reds run with a sacrifice fly.

Jerry Hairston Jr. was activated before the game and led off for the Reds.  To make room on the roster for Hairston, Paul Janish was optioned to Louisville.

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

Walks to Norris Hopper and Paul Janish, a sacrifice bunt by David Ross, and a sacrifice fly by Jay Bruce manufactured the winning run in the top of the tenth as the Reds bested the Blue Jays 6-5 in extra innings.  Jared Burton picked up his fourth win in relief, and Francisco Cordero notched his 15th save.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run homer in the top of the first off Jays starter Roy Halliday.  Reds starter Aaron Harang had one bad inning, giving up a pair of two-run shots to Adam Lind and Joe Inglett in the third.

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