Reds Recap: Win to Start the 2nd Half
The one thing that is going through the minds of Cincinnati Fans right now is who and when are they going to sell. Until that time comes, winning a couple games here and there can only help two things. It can help in terms of viewership. People like to watch winning baseball, and it can help in trade value.
It is time for the Reds to get on a roll in the next week and a half before the cargo truck comes to take some of the team away. So they might as well play better over that span to get more than what they should. And that is exactly what they did last night.
Two key players, Marlon Byrd and Mike Leake, who figure to be important pieces in the game of chess that is the Trade Deadline, preformed very well in the 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Byrd had a four hit night and Leake went six innings of one run ball while picking up a 2-RBI double of his own.
Game Summary:
After a quiet first nine outs, the Reds struck in the bottom of the second inning. Marlon Byrd hit his 15th home run of the season for the first score of the game. Then after back-to-back singles by Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart, Mike Leake laid down a squeeze bunt. Suarez came home from third base to score, and everyone else was safe, 2-0 Reds.
The Redlegs would score again in the bottom of the third inning when Leake came up with the bases loaded and two outs. As much as it was to Thom Brennaman’s dismay, Leake hit the first pitch and drove it up against the wall to score two more runs, and take his RBI total to three for the game.
For a little insurance Joey Votto his is 15th home run of the season and gave the Reds a 5-0 lead.
The Indians would finally get a run back in the sixth inning, but it would be their only run.
The fun came later in the game for the Reds. Billy Hamilton led off the eighth inning with a single. He then stolen second base and advanced to third on a throwing error. With no one out and and Hamilton on third, Brandon Phillips hit a ground ball to third.
Hamilton started to go back to third and just as the throw was made across the diamond, Hamilton sprinted towards the plate. Phillips was thrown out at first base, but the relay to the plate was late, and the Reds scored the final run of the game, 6-1 Reds.