Reds Avoid The Broom

On an afternoon when the brooms could have come out for the wrong team, the Reds fought their way back from a 5-0 deficit to win the final game of this three game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jay Bruce hit his fifteen home run in the bottom of the second to start a string of a run an inning for the Reds until they finally tied the game at five in the sixth. All this seemed like for naught as the Pirates again went ahead in the top of the eighth on a Nate McLouth home run, this freakin guy is for real. But the Reds weren't to be denied this afternoon as they came back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to end the two game losing streak. Joey Votto had a bases loaded single in this big inning to add to his 17th home run of the season he hit earlier in the game. Joey Votto is the clean up hitter in this lineup, but he could be moved down to fifth in the order if the Reds acquire a much needed slugging right handed bat in the off season.

Things won't get much easier tomorrow when Bronson Arroyo will face off against Ted Lilly, in the first game of a three game series against the team with the best record in the National League the Chicago Cubs. Arroyo and Lilly both thirteen game winners faced off a couple weeks ago with Bronson getting the best of Lilly 2-1. Hopefully history repeats itself tomorrow night. Can the Reds at least play spoiler to a team that's trying to win it's first World Series in 100 years.

On another note from this afternoon's game....Josh Fogg left the game in the bottom of the third inning after straining his groin scoring the Reds second run of the game. After giving up five runs in the first two innings, maybe this saves the game for the Reds.......Did I just say that!!!!!!