Reds Smack Pirates To Even Up Series

Ramon Hernandez hit a grand slam in the Reds 11-2 win
over the Pirates, Saturday.

By:  Cooper Ledford


The Reds were coming off a disappointing loss to the Pirates last night, today they were trying to get their revenge and even up the series at a game each.  If they were going to do so, they would need to take advantage of the young pitcher, James McDonald, and Mike Leake would need to pitch well.  Well, the Reds got plenty of runs, and Leake looked very good.  The Reds won 11-2, here is how.


In the bottom of the 2nd, Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run, his 4th of the year, 1-0 Reds.  Then in the bottom of the 3rd, Joey Votto hit an RBI single to plate Stubbs, and the Reds had a 2-0 lead.

Jonny Gomes hit 2 long balls in the Reds 11-2 win over
the Pirates, Saturday.

But, Pittsburgh was quick to answer back.  In the 4th inning, with the bases loaded, Garrett Jones walked, that would make it 2-1.  Same inning, Cedneo hit a sac fly, Alvarez score, and that game was now tied at 2.  Until the 5th.


In the Reds half of the 5th, it was a run parade.  To start the scoring, Juan Francisco hit an RBI single, Cairo would score, and the Reds had their lead back.  But that lead would get larger.  Especially when Ramon Hernandez hit a grand slam.  It was a long one, 431 feet to left!  That got the 26,418 fans at GABP fired up, the score was 7-2.  Still in the 5th, when Leake on, Stubbs hit a 2-run jack to right, just clearing the fence, and the Reds increased their lead to 7.  

Mike Leake got the win in Saturday's game against
Pittsburgh.

That would be it for the 5th inning scoring, but in the 6th, the Redlegs were back at it.  Jonny Gomes hit a 2-run home run, his 2nd long ball of the day, 11-2 the score.  Gotta love what Gomes is doing so far this season, being patient, getting on base, and then when he gets that pitch he wants, he delivers, weather it's a single, a sac fly, or a home run, he delivers.  Jonny be good!


Cincinnati's bullpen would hold the Pirates for the rest of the game, allowing the Reds to win 11-2.  They are now 9-5 (what a way to make a living).  


Mike Leake got the win, as he went 6 innings, gave up 4 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 6.


Tomorrow the Reds will look to take the series lead.  Edinson Volquez will pitch tomorrow for Cincy, while the 'Burgh will run out Jeff Karstens.  Game time will be at 1:10 PM ET, and will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio.

Series 5 Preview

By:  Cooper Ledford


The 8-4 Cincinnati Reds return home after a 3-3 road trip.  The Reds will be looking to win the next few series, but 1st they will need to beat a good Pittsburgh Pirates team.  Yes, that's right, I said a good Pittsburgh Pirates team.  With that, I will preview each and every game in the Reds 4-game series with the Pirates.


Game 1 (Friday, 7:10 PM ET, FS Ohio):  The 1st game of the series looks like it'll be a good one.  Bronson Arroyo will take the hill for Cincinnati, while Charlie Morton will pitch for the Buccos. Both pitchers are undefeated, Arroyo is 2-0 while Morton is 1-0, and both are sporting a 2.08 ERA.  Let's first start with Bronson Arroyo.  He is 6-4 lifetime against the Pirates, and has done very well against the current Pittsburgh hitters.  There are 3 players who have at least 10 at-bats against him, Cedeno, Doumit, and Jones.  Cedeno has 23 at-bats against the hick-kicking righty, with a .217 average, and 1 home run.  So except for that long ball, Bronson has done well against him.  Jones is batting .182 in 11 at-bats, while Doumit has a .100 average in 10 at-bats.  Now onto Morton.  He is 1-4 lifetime against the team from Cincinnati, and has struggled with current Reds batters through out his career.  Jonny Gomes, Brandon Phillips, and Scott Rolen have the most at-bats against him, all with 13.  Gomes is batting .385, Phillips is batting .308, and Rolen has a great average at .462.  Hernandez, Phillips, Rolen, Stubbs, and Votto have all had multiple RBI's off of Charlie, while Bruce and Gomes have hit one.  The Reds should win this game.


Game 2 (Saturday 1:10 PM ET, FS Ohio):  Okay, I underlined the 1:10 time because it is a Saturday game, on Saturday's the games usually start at 7:10.  Back to the game.  Edinson Volquez will be pitching for the Redlegs, while James McDonald will pitch for the Pirates.  As long as Volquez has a better 1st inning that he has in his other starts, and can go about 6 or more innings, and hold the Pirates under 4 runs or so, then the Reds should win.  Ryan Doumit is the only Pirate who has really given Volquez ant trouble, as he has had 13 at-bats against him, with a .385 average.  Okay, now onto McDonald.  No Red has had more than 3 at-bats against him, so no one really knows what he's got.  But he is a young pitcher, and the Reds should be able to take advantage of that, and win it.


Game 3 (Sunday, 1:10 PM ET, FS Ohio): Mike Leake will pitch for the Reds, while TBA will pitch for Pittsburgh.  Leake is 0-1 against the Pirates so far, and will look to go to 1-1.  That's about all I can do, since we don't know who will pitch for Pittsburgh.  Well, hopefully whoever pitches will lose, and the Reds will take the first 3 games of the series.


Game 4 (Monday 7:10 PM ET, FS Ohio):  Kevin Correia will pitch for the Pirates, while TBA will pitch for the Reds.  Correia is 6-1 against the Reds lifetime, so very good against them.  Unless the Reds offense comes alive against him, and whoever pitches for the Reds does well, the Reds will lose.  Hopefully they win though.