What a huge day in the Bluegrass! Game 5 of the Reds and Giants in Cincinnati this afternoon, the big VP debate at Centre College tonight.
At the Great American Ball Park in the Queen City of the West, the homestanding Reds are tied 0-0 with the Giants in the top of the 4th. It looks like a beautiful day in southern Ohio.
The Giants are pitching Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79 ERA). The Reds are pitching Matt Latos (14-4, 3.48). Both Matts are looking awesome so far.
ReplyDeleteIn the top of the 5th, SF scores on a single by Gregor Blanco (their number 7 hitter) and a triple by Brandon Crawford (the number 8 hitter). Giants lead 1-0.
ReplyDeleteCrawford comes home when Cincinnati's shortstop bobbles a grounder from Angel Pagan. Giants now lead 2-0.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking like a long winter in Cincinnati. The Giants load the bases on an error, a walk, and a single, and then Buster Posey -- SF's only hitter -- smacks a grand slam into the upper deck. Giants lead 6-0, and everyone from Dayton to Danville will be wondering why Cincinnati left Mat Latos in for so long.
ReplyDeleteThe Reds get two runs back in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-run double from Brandon Phillips. But after a tense, seven-pitch at-bat, Matt Cain gets all-star Joey Votto to ground out to short and end the inning.
ReplyDeleteGiants lead 6-2 after 5, and FanGraphs gives SF a 93 percent chance of victory.
A home run for Ryan Ludwick makes the score 6-3 in the bottom of the 6th, but the Reds kill themselves by running into a strikeout/throwout double play.
ReplyDeleteAfter 6, Giants lead 6-3, and they have a 91 percent chance of victory.
The Giants hang on for a 6-4 victory, and the Reds' collapse is complete. Three straight losses at home. A long winter indeed for Reds fans, most of whom will be happy to switch their attention to college basketball.
ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, losing their ace Johnny Cueto (19-9, 2.78 ERA) in the first inning of Game 1 was a devastating blow to the Reds. They won Game 1 anyway, but they could have used Cueto today.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Reds manager Dusty Baker has a history of over-using his good pitchers.