Reds 6 – Cardinals 5 F/10

Complete Recap

The Cardinals certainly got off to a good start Friday night in Cincinnati. For a good little while it looked as if they were going to completely run away with the strong victory to start the series off on a good note. As time progressed, fundamental holes began to open and the Reds took full advantage to completely change the tide of the game and take home the victory.

The fourth inning was the beginning to any excitement as far as this game went, early on it looked like a fast game that wasn’t very offensive. Come the top of the 4th, the Cards turn on the fireworks to kick the game in drive. Colby Rasmus leads off with a single, Albert singles, and Matt Holliday doubles Colby home and Pujols to 3rd. Lance Berkman hits a sac fly to score Pujols and Daniel Descalso doubles home Holliday to end the inning 3-0 Cardinals.

They managed to chip one more run in the top of the 6th. Matt Holliday singles, Yadier grounds into a force out to get Holliday but he reaches second on a throwing error. Daniel Descalso dials in yet again and singles to send Yadier home to give the Cards a 4-0 lead.

The bottom half is when the Reds finally begin to make things interesting. Joey Votto starts the inning with a double, Brandon Phillips grounds out but advances Votto to 3rd, and Jay Bruce singles the run home, 4-1 Cardinals. Former Cardinal Scott Rolen doubles in the very next at bat to send Bruce home and the inning ends 4-2 Cardinals.

The Cardinals come into the top of the 7th to bring in one more run after Bill Bray replaces starter Bronson Arroyo. Nick Punto walks and Colby hits into another force out that gets Punto at second. Pujols singles to put runners at first and second and Matt Holliday is the next batter and he proceeds to single and send Colby home 5-2 Cardinals.

The bottom of the 7th the Reds finally look in contention. Chris Heisey singles, Drew Stubbs walks, and Edgar Renteria doubles to send home two more Reds runs to bring the game to 5-4.

The bottom of the 9th, Cards turn to who looks to be their new closer as thus far he has had the most opportunities, Eduardo Sanchez is in. He walks Edgar Renteria, throws a wild pitch to send Edgar to second, and Joey Votto grounds out but sends him to third with one out. Brandon Phillips (of all people) is the next batter and singles Renteria home to tie the game, score is tied as 5-5.

The Cardinals are unable to really pull anything together in the top of the 10th and with the Reds riding their new found confidence in this game, you knew trouble was coming. Jason Motte takes over the pitching duties. Ramon Hernandez doubles, Chris Heisey hits into a ground out that gets the runner coming into third, and Edgar Renteria walks to bring the runners to first and second with reigning MVP Joey Votto coming to the plate. It’s a six pitch affair with nothing but fastballs and Joey finally turns on the right ball and singles in Chris Heisey to be the hero of the day, Reds win 6-5 in 10 innings.

Winning Pitcher: Francisco Cordero (3-1 : 2.16 ERA)

Losing Pitcher: Jason Motte (1-1 : 2.16 ERA)