Reds take over second place again in NL Central (Reds WSB 2K3)

[mustardman]

"I don't think there was any doubt that we had the momentum heading into this game", said Manager Bob Boone. "The last few games we've been really swinging the bats well. Greenie is on fire again."

Shawn Green (.317, 17 hr's, 32 rbi's) hit two solo homeruns and scored three runs to help the Reds beat the Cardinals in St. Louis 7-1. The Reds have won the first two games of the series. Ryan Dempster (2-3 3.24), known for being able to record strike outs, but not being able to hold runners on, allowed five hits and struck out 15 batters.

Former Reds pitcher Brett Tomko (2-3 5.28) lasted only five innings in his third loss of the season, allowing four runs on six hits. "I threw strikes, just too many of them".

[mustardman]

Reds move within 1 1/2 games of the Pirates in the NL Central

Bartolo Colon (7-1 3.20) pitched a complete game, going ten innings and striking out 14 batters to win his seventh game of the season. A big part of the Reds' eight game winning streak has been late inning comebacks, today was no different. Kelly Stinnett his third homerun of the season, a two run blast that barely cleared the wall in left at Miller Park in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Reds scored again in the top of the tenth inning to hang on beat the Brewers 4-3.

The Reds pitching staff has been wonderful in the past few weeks, helping to lower the team's ERA to 3.57, fourth best in the National League. The hitting has been coming around, to raise the team batting average to a respectable .278. Shawn Green would have to be the offensive catalyst of this Reds club, as he has 19 homeruns and 37 RBI's, having hit a handful of homeruns in the past few games. Bartolo Colon has been the Reds premiere starting pitcher, with his 7 wins and 3.20 ERA.

[mustardman]

Reds move within 1 1/2 games of the Pirates in the NL Central

Bartolo Colon (7-1 3.20) pitched a complete game, going ten innings and striking out 14 batters to win his seventh game of the season. A big part of the Reds' eight game winning streak has been late inning comebacks, today was no different. Kelly Stinnett his third homerun of the season, a two run blast that barely cleared the wall in left at Miller Park in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Reds scored again in the top of the tenth inning to hang on beat the Brewers 4-3.

The Reds pitching staff has been wonderful in the past few weeks, helping to lower the team's ERA to 3.57, fourth best in the National League. The hitting has been coming around, to raise the team batting average to a respectable .278. Shawn Green would have to be the offensive catalyst of this Reds club, as he has 19 homeruns and 37 RBI's, having hit a handful of homeruns in the past few games. Bartolo Colon has been the Reds premiere starting pitcher, with his 7 wins and 3.20 ERA.

[mustardman]

Reds move within 1 1/2 games of the Pirates in the NL Central

Bartolo Colon (7-1 3.20) pitched a complete game, going ten innings and striking out 14 batters to win his seventh game of the season. A big part of the Reds' eight game winning streak has been late inning comebacks, today was no different. Kelly Stinnett his third homerun of the season, a two run blast that barely cleared the wall in left at Miller Park in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Reds scored again in the top of the tenth inning to hang on beat the Brewers 4-3.

The Reds pitching staff has been wonderful in the past few weeks, helping to lower the team's ERA to 3.57, fourth best in the National League. The hitting has been coming around, to raise the team batting average to a respectable .278. Shawn Green would have to be the offensive catalyst of this Reds club, as he has 19 homeruns and 37 RBI's, having hit a handful of homeruns in the past few games. Bartolo Colon has been the Reds premiere starting pitcher, with his 7 wins and 3.20 ERA.

[mustardman]

Braves pitcher hits two homeruns to beat Reds

The Reds have not figured out a way to win at home, as they were beat up 10-7. "We got pummelled, plain and simple", said Manager Bob Boone. "Anytime you give up two homeruns to the opposing pitcher, you have to ask yourself what in the hell is going on". "I've struggled all year long, but to come in here and throw six innings and help my ballclub get the win by knocking in four runs is special", said winning pitcher Jason Marquis (2-3 3.15).

Ryan Dempster has shown a penchant for being able to strike out batters, but he often gives up runs in bunches. "I just don't know what it is", said losing pitcher Ryan Dempster (2-4 4.42). Chipper Jones hit his 12th homerun of the season, and Andruw Jones knocked in his 10th of the season. The Reds could have won this game, and had Dempster been taken out in the top of the seventh inning when he loaded the bases, they might have squeaked this one out. The Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and pushed across two runs in the bottom of the ninth, leaving two men on. John Smoltz got his tenth save of the season.

"We have to win a game in this series, or we're going to have to win our division", said Bob Boone, shaking his head. The Reds trail the NL Central leading Pirates by two games, and trail the Braves by two games in the wildcard race. The Reds fell to 24-21.

[mustardman]

Braves pitcher hits two homeruns to beat Reds

The Reds have not figured out a way to win at home, as they were beat up 10-7. "We got pummelled, plain and simple", said Manager Bob Boone. "Anytime you give up two homeruns to the opposing pitcher, you have to ask yourself what in the hell is going on". "I've struggled all year long, but to come in here and throw six innings and help my ballclub get the win by knocking in four runs is special", said winning pitcher Jason Marquis (2-3 3.15).

Ryan Dempster has shown a penchant for being able to strike out batters, but he often gives up runs in bunches. "I just don't know what it is", said losing pitcher Ryan Dempster (2-4 4.42). Chipper Jones hit his 12th homerun of the season, and Andruw Jones knocked in his 10th of the season. The Reds could have won this game, and had Dempster been taken out in the top of the seventh inning when he loaded the bases, they might have squeaked this one out. The Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and pushed across two runs in the bottom of the ninth, leaving two men on. John Smoltz got his tenth save of the season.

"We have to win a game in this series, or we're going to have to win our division", said Bob Boone, shaking his head. The Reds trail the NL Central leading Pirates by two games, and trail the Braves by two games in the wildcard race. The Reds fell to 24-21.

[mustardman]

Braves pitcher hits two homeruns to beat Reds

The Reds have not figured out a way to win at home, as they were beat up 10-7. "We got pummelled, plain and simple", said Manager Bob Boone. "Anytime you give up two homeruns to the opposing pitcher, you have to ask yourself what in the hell is going on". "I've struggled all year long, but to come in here and throw six innings and help my ballclub get the win by knocking in four runs is special", said winning pitcher Jason Marquis (2-3 3.15).

Ryan Dempster has shown a penchant for being able to strike out batters, but he often gives up runs in bunches. "I just don't know what it is", said losing pitcher Ryan Dempster (2-4 4.42). Chipper Jones hit his 12th homerun of the season, and Andruw Jones knocked in his 10th of the season. The Reds could have won this game, and had Dempster been taken out in the top of the seventh inning when he loaded the bases, they might have squeaked this one out. The Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and pushed across two runs in the bottom of the ninth, leaving two men on. John Smoltz got his tenth save of the season.

"We have to win a game in this series, or we're going to have to win our division", said Bob Boone, shaking his head. The Reds trail the NL Central leading Pirates by two games, and trail the Braves by two games in the wildcard race. The Reds fell to 24-21.

[mustardman]

Maddux goes to 7-0 on the season

Greg Maddux dominated the Reds, pitching six innings of two run ball to beat the Reds 5-3. In the top of the ninth inning in Cincinnati, the Reds bobbled the ball twice to allow a runner to score, thus pretty much taking away any chances they have in coming back against the the National League's best team.

[mustardman]

Maddux goes to 7-0 on the season

Greg Maddux dominated the Reds, pitching six innings of two run ball to beat the Reds 5-3. In the top of the ninth inning in Cincinnati, the Reds bobbled the ball twice to allow a runner to score, thus pretty much taking away any chances they have in coming back against the the National League's best team.

[mustardman]

Maddux goes to 7-0 on the season

Greg Maddux dominated the Reds, pitching six innings of two run ball to beat the Reds 5-3. In the top of the ninth inning in Cincinnati, the Reds bobbled the ball twice to allow a runner to score, thus pretty much taking away any chances they have in coming back against the the National League's best team.

[mustardman]

Reds salvage series against Braves, winning 6-2

Arguably the best comeback team in the majors did it again. In the bottom of the eighth, Cincinnati scored twice on an Adam Dunn double down the left field line, to knock Russ Ortiz (2-5 4.66) out of the game after 6 2/3 innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning Cincinnati scored three runs to put the game away. Gabe White pitched two innings to record his first save of the season. Starter Bruce Chen (5-2 1.83) continued his spectacular pitching, striking out 9 batters and allowing one earned one in seven innings of work. "We never thought, before the season begun, that Chen would be one of the key pieces of our pitching staff. He has a full arsenal of pitches, and that allows you to get by on days when your zip isn't there. He shut down what we feel is the best team in the National League, and the team were going to have to beat to win the wild card.", said Manager Bob Boone.

[mustardman]

Reds salvage series against Braves, winning 6-2

Arguably the best comeback team in the majors did it again. In the bottom of the eighth, Cincinnati scored twice on an Adam Dunn double down the left field line, to knock Russ Ortiz (2-5 4.66) out of the game after 6 2/3 innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning Cincinnati scored three runs to put the game away. Gabe White pitched two innings to record his first save of the season. Starter Bruce Chen (5-2 1.83) continued his spectacular pitching, striking out 9 batters and allowing one earned one in seven innings of work. "We never thought, before the season begun, that Chen would be one of the key pieces of our pitching staff. He has a full arsenal of pitches, and that allows you to get by on days when your zip isn't there. He shut down what we feel is the best team in the National League, and the team were going to have to beat to win the wild card.", said Manager Bob Boone.

[mustardman]

Reds salvage series against Braves, winning 6-2

Arguably the best comeback team in the majors did it again. In the bottom of the eighth, Cincinnati scored twice on an Adam Dunn double down the left field line, to knock Russ Ortiz (2-5 4.66) out of the game after 6 2/3 innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning Cincinnati scored three runs to put the game away. Gabe White pitched two innings to record his first save of the season. Starter Bruce Chen (5-2 1.83) continued his spectacular pitching, striking out 9 batters and allowing one earned one in seven innings of work. "We never thought, before the season begun, that Chen would be one of the key pieces of our pitching staff. He has a full arsenal of pitches, and that allows you to get by on days when your zip isn't there. He shut down what we feel is the best team in the National League, and the team were going to have to beat to win the wild card.", said Manager Bob Boone.

[mustardman]

Reds outslug the Marlins to win 6-4

The Reds went on a patented homer barrage, hitting three homeruns to Florida's two homeruns. Shawn Green led the attack in the bottom of the third inning with his 20th homerun of the season. Dunn followed with his 10th dinger. "If the balls weren't flying tonight, then I wouldn't have won this game", said Reds starting pitcher Paul Wilson (1-1 5.64). Scott Sullivan worked three shutout innings to record his first save of the season, while Marlins starting pitcher Mark Redman fell to 2-3 and saw his ERA climb to 5.28. The Reds won for their second game in a row after losing the first two of a series against the Braves to improve to 26-22 and move within one game of the NL Central leading Pittsburgh Pirates. More importantly the Braves lost, letting the Reds climb to within 1 1/2 games of the Braves who lead the wildcard race with a 27-20 record. Cincinnati has had to deal with a rash of injuries to their infield. Guerroro (2B) is out for 91 days with a torn hamstring, Boone (3B) is out 77 days with a torn ACL, Lopez (SS) is out for 53 days with a torn biceps muscle and Casey is due to come off the DL in a day after straining his lower back. This has really forced the Reds hand, and luckily there haven't been too many errors with such a young core. "I really like platooning at first base", said catcher Jason Larue. "Whatever it takes to help this ballclub."

[mustardman]

Reds outslug the Marlins to win 6-4

The Reds went on a patented homer barrage, hitting three homeruns to Florida's two homeruns. Shawn Green led the attack in the bottom of the third inning with his 20th homerun of the season. Dunn followed with his 10th dinger. "If the balls weren't flying tonight, then I wouldn't have won this game", said Reds starting pitcher Paul Wilson (1-1 5.64). Scott Sullivan worked three shutout innings to record his first save of the season, while Marlins starting pitcher Mark Redman fell to 2-3 and saw his ERA climb to 5.28. The Reds won for their second game in a row after losing the first two of a series against the Braves to improve to 26-22 and move within one game of the NL Central leading Pittsburgh Pirates. More importantly the Braves lost, letting the Reds climb to within 1 1/2 games of the Braves who lead the wildcard race with a 27-20 record. Cincinnati has had to deal with a rash of injuries to their infield. Guerroro (2B) is out for 91 days with a torn hamstring, Boone (3B) is out 77 days with a torn ACL, Lopez (SS) is out for 53 days with a torn biceps muscle and Casey is due to come off the DL in a day after straining his lower back. This has really forced the Reds hand, and luckily there haven't been too many errors with such a young core. "I really like platooning at first base", said catcher Jason Larue. "Whatever it takes to help this ballclub."