Reds Win Series Thanks to Pitching, and Error

By:  Cooper Ledford


The Cincinnati Reds were hosting the Atlanta Braves in the final game of the 3 game series, and once again were in front of a sell-out crowd.  This was the rubber game, and it would be the Reds winning the game, and the series 2-1.  2-1 the score today, and 2-1 the series record.  Here is how it all happened.

The Braves got an early lead, in the 2nd inning as former Red, Alex Gonzalez hit a solo home run, the score was 1-0.

In the home half of the 5th, with Ramon Hernandez standing on 1st, Brandon Phillips hit his 4th triple of the year, that would plate Hernandez, and it was a tie game.  That was the best part of the game for the Reds, until the next play.  Orlando Cabrera hit a ground ball to short, just about as routine as you can get, and Alex Gonzalez could not pick up the ball, that would bring in Phillips, and it was 2-1, and that was how the good ole, good one finished.  But, not with out some sweat and a threat, in the 9th inning with 2 outs and the bases empty, Jayson Heyward stepped to the plate, he hit a double to bring Omar Infante to the plate.  But, Francisco Cordero was able to make him hit it back to him, Coco tossed it to Votto to end the game, and the Reds take 2-out-of-3 from the 1st place Atlanta Braves. 

But, there is some bad news, the St. Louis Cardinals swept the Pirates, and the Reds still sit just a half game back of 1st place in the NL Central. 

The winner of this game is Edinson Volquez, as he is now 2-1, as he goes 5 innings, gave up only 3 hits and 1 run, walked 5 (which was what he needs to get better at, cutting down walks), and he fanned 6.  The loser is Tommy Hanson as he is now 8-8.  Francisco Cordero gets his 29th save of the season.

The homestand is over, as it was just a quick 3 game series, and the Reds will now head to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates.  Tomorrow it will be Travis Wood (1-1, 2.87 ERA) on the hill for the Redlegs, and on the hill for the Buccos, it will be Ross Ohlendorf (1-8, 4.35 ERA).  The game will be at 7:05 PM ET, and televised on Fox Sports Ohio and you can listen to the game on 700 WLW, as always.  Jeremy Mays will make the recaps for the Pittsburgh and Chicago series.