The Sixth Inning Again Dooms Reds In St. Louis.

For the 2 starters in the Cincinnati Reds rotation that will be Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey the starter today have had trouble getting Cardinals batters out in the sixth inning in the first two series’ between the foes this year. For Arroyo last night allowed a two run homerun that was the big blow and today Homer Bailey allowed three runs which derailed the Reds as they fall to the Cards 4-2 in the rubber match of the three game series as the Cardinals have won the first two series’ vs the Reds this season.

As I said in my pre game post this morning the Reds are 3-23-2 in series’ play in St Louis since 2003. Well, you can add  another loss to that as the Reds have not won a series there since the 2011 season.

Homer Bailey again was outstanding through the first 5 innings of the game vs the Cards but just like what happened in his first start in St Louis the sixth inning hasn’t been kind to him.

In the bottom of the sixth inning game was tied at 1 that’s when Bailey’s freefall came. Allen Craig walked with one out, Yaider Molina singled to left. Matt Caparenter hit a blooped ball that went over the head of Brandon Phillps for a RBI single to give the Cards the lead and then they scratch up more runs in. A single produced another run, and then a Daniel Descalso RBI single plate the third run of the inning and was Bailey last batter of the game.

Homer’s final line was 5 1/3 innings pitched, allowed 4 runs, one walk, three strikeouts. The Reds bats did no favors for Bailey as they were able to produced only 2 runs  and have scored 2 runs or less 13 times already this season.

Reds got their first run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Joey Votto walked with one out, then Brandon Phillps hit a shot to centerfield for a RBI double scoring Votto to tie the game at 1 at that point. The second run of the game for the Reds came in the ninth as Phillps lead off with a homerun to left field to cut the deficit to two but they weren’t able to comeback.

With the loss the Reds fell to 2-5 in their current 10 game road trip and will enjoy a much needed day off in Chicago tomorrow as it will end a stretch of playing 20 straight days of baseball. The Reds bats need to start hitting and making contact at the plate because they are striking out at a high rate and not hitting with runners in scoring position. They will start a 3 game series in Chicago starting Friday afternoon vs the Cubs. Time to start  hitting boys and try to salvage  a .500 road trip with a sweep of the Cubs.