Reviving The Big Red Machine: A Cincinnati Reds Dynasty

[Spider Tre]

reviving Reviving The Big Red Machine :P


^ i hope you guys can read that

Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati, Ohio
April 9, 2010
Attendence: 34,830 (75% capacity)
Weather: 43*F, Clear, winds blowing 13.6 mph from LF
First Pitch: 7:05pm

This game was a heart breaker. Edinson Volquez was pitching a gem as struck out 11 batters in 6.1 innings after being pulled after giving up two base hits and leaving 2 men in scoring position with 1 out. Volquez didn't walk a batter. In fact, neither side gave up a walk. Cubs were swinging at everything when the Reds were patient and putting the ball inplay. The Reds didn't strike out till Brandon Phillips struck out swinging in the bottom of the 7th. The Cubs were swingin' and a missin' as they were set down on strikes a total of 17 times in the contest.

Volquez was having a rocky start. Balls and strikes were a level number and he had given up a 1st inning homer to Derrek Lee. Volquez gave up another run in the 2nd but was untouchable for the rest of the night. The Reds were down 2-1 till the Amazin' Canadian, Joey Votto, launched a 2 run homer to the Cubs bullpen in right field.

Volquez helped his cause by hitting a ground ball up the middle to bring in Hernandez to make it a 4-2 advantage in the 4th. In the 6th, the Cubs tried to execute the 'hit & run' with Lee up to the plate and Theriot on 1st. The move was foiled when Lee swung and missed and a perfect throw nailed Theriot at 2nd. Lee struck out a pitch later.

Volquez was called back to the mound in the top of the 7th for his last inning of work but gave up a single and a double after striking out his 11th batter. Reds' skipper, Dusty Baker pulled Volquez to put in a fresh arm to get out of this jam. Baker called in righty Mike Lincoln to get 2 quick outs and maybe get his ERA back down to Earth. It only took one pitch to soil what was a very good outing by Volquez as Lincoln gives up a grounder up the middle by Soto to send both runners home. Phillips was the first Red that fell victim to a strike out as he chased a 1-2 slider down and in.

Masset came in to pitch the 8th. He gave up a single and struck out a batter before giving up a homer that tucked over the wall in left to give the Cubs the lead, 6-4. After giving up a single to the next batter, Micah Owings was called in to keep the deficit where it was. Seemed like Dusty should called in Owings in the previous inning as he went a hitless 1 2/3 with 5 punchouts.

After Stubbs struck out to begin the bottom of the 9th, a possible Reds rally was started when Hernandez doubled to left. Backup short stop, Paul Janish was called in to pinch run for Ramon. Baker called in powerful lefty hitting, Laynce Nix to see if he could tie this with one swing of that or just try to get Janish to 3rd. Marmol went wild as Janish was able to advance to 3rd on a wild pitch. Nix was robbed of a hit when Cubs 2nd baseman, Jeff Baker, leaped to catch a liner which would've surely brought Janish home. With Cabrera up to bat and not really known for his power, Baker called in the powerful righty, Jonny Gomes. The move didn't help much as Gomes flew out to shallow left.

Another game where a dominating pitching performance ends up heart breaking.

[Spider Tre]

The Reds can't catch a break as the pitching broke down again. Bailey got touched for 4 runs in the 6th and none left the park. He only lasted 5.2 innings before Danny Ray, Lincoln, and Ondrusek proceeded him. The defense also had trouble as ground balls were zipping by their gloves and outfielders taking bad routes. Esmailin Caridad pitched 8 full innings of 1 run baseball before Angel Guzman closed down the Reds.

The Reds really need to win the next game to regain their confidence before going on the road for 7 games against Florida and Pittsburgh.

[Spider Tre]

Great American Ballpark -- Cincinnati, Ohio
April 11, 2010
Attendance: 38,529 (83% Capacity)
Weather: 58*F, Clear, 10.1 mph winds blowing across RF to LF
First Pitch: 1:05pm


Finally, everything went right in this game. The bats were popping, and the pitching held up as Harang went 7 innings of 1 run baseball. Rhodes and Cordero followed Harang.

"Nothing better than winning the last game of a series before your road trip after you lose a few. Let's see how the boys will do in Miami with the confidence this win built." Reds' manager, Dusty Baker, told reporters.

[Spider Tre]

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Sun Life Stadium -- Miami, Florida
Attendence: 13,359
Weather: 72*F, Clear, 12 mph winds blowing out to RF
First Pitch: 7:05pm
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Miami, FL-- A win to start the 7 game road trip was just what the Reds needed. Slugging first baseman, Joey Votto, had 4 hits, 3 runs, 4 RBI and 2 homers in 5 atbats as he led the Men In Red to 11 runs and 19 hits against Florida. Scott Rolen and Jay Bruce also hit home runs in the game.

Bronson Arroyo went 6 innings, only giving up 3 runs on a solo homer by Dan Uggla and a 2 run home run to Hanley Ramirez. Lincoln came into pitch the 7th, lowering that ERA of his to a 6.75 and picking up his first hold of the season. Rhodes came in the 8th inning as a lefty specialist, facing a switch hitter and giving up a double to a lefty. Masset was called in to set down the next two right handed batters in the inning. Herrera shut down the Marlins in the 9th giving up only a hit and picking up a strike out while keeping his ERA clean.

The Reds look to reach the .500 mark as Johnny Cueto (0-0 9.00) takes the mound for the Redlegs while Anibal Sanchez (0-1 7.20) takes the mound for the Marlins.

[Purplepower_NC]

Will enjoy following this...as I am a Lifetime Reds fan.

[Spider Tre]

Quote: Originally Posted by Purplepower_NC

Will enjoy following this...as I am a Lifetime Reds fan.

thanks! me too

[Spider Tre]

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Sun Life Stadium -- Miami, Florida
April 13, 2010
Attendance: 14,315 (39% Capacity)
Weather: 76*F, Clear, 2 mph winds blowing in from RF
First Pitch: 7:05pm
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Miami, FL-- The Reds' bats are Red hot as they hit 5 home runs in a 12 inning bout to bring their record to .500 for the first time this season. Joey Votto and Scott Rolen hit two back-to-back home runs. Jonny Gomes had one in the 12th that put the nail in the coffin.

The Marlins' bats were alive from the gecko as they already had 10 hits in the 6th inning. Cueto struck out 5 and gave up 10 hits in 5 innings before being pulled for giving up two base hits to lead off the 6th which later scored. Herrera, Rhodes and Masset got an inning worth of work in the game. With a 7-4 lead in the 9th, CoCo was called in to close it out. He gave up a base hit which later scored on an RBI double by Cody Ross. With 2 out, and a man on 2nd and 3rd, John Baker doubled to right which tied the game and gave Cordero his first blown save of the season. Ondrusek pitched 2 innings, and Owings pitched one inning as Mike Lincoln was the only pitcher left in the bullpen.

Scott Rolen suffered tightness in his right arm after making a diving stop in the 4th inning. He's expected to miss a couple of games and will not go on the 15-DL. Utility man, Miguel Cairo, will take his place at 3rd.

The Reds will look to go over .500 and push their winning streak to 4 as Edinson Volquez (0-0 5.68) will start for Cincy and Chris Volstad (1-0 1.50) will start for Florida.

[Spider Tre]

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Sun Life Stadium -- Miami, Florida
April 14, 2010
Attendance: 13,141 (36% Capacity)
Weather: 70*F, Clear, 10.8 mph winds blowing across from RF to LF
First Pitch: 7:10pm
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Miami, FL-- The Reds are just heating up here in Miami as they clubbed 5 home runs and shut the Marlins out to get over the .500 mark. Jay Bruce and Jonny Gomes homered twice and Brandon Phillips homered back in the 7th inning. Votto went 2-5 as he extended his hitting streak to 8 games as he has just been on fire. Votto also stole his first base of the season in the 6th inning. Bruce had one of his best games as he went 3 for 5 with those being the two homers and a triple. Bruce also picked up 3 RBI bringing his total to 10 for the season.

Edinson Volquez was the real spotlight of the night, having pitched a 3 hit shut out while only giving up one walk and striking out 9. After yesterday's bullpen clearing, they needed a day off and Volquez took that to heart. Hanley Ramirez, the second out in the ninth, almost broke the shutout by fouling off two pitches that would've cleared the teel moster in left by plenty. Luckly, he was called out looking at a low fastball.

The Reds will be looking to sweep the Marlins as Homer Bailey (0-1 7.94) will start against Rick Vandenhurk (0-0 2.57).