Loading ...The Reds continue what has been a good road trip thus far with a tilt in DC against the Nationals tonight. Elizardo Ramirez starts for the Redlegs, in place of Eric Milton. The Nationals counter with their ace, Livan Hernandez.
I hope to read some good analysis by our resident Reds fan in Nationals country, daedalus. In fact, I expect good analysis from you all — discuss the game here!
Freel is life.
That was quick – 1-0 Reds, helped by a misplay by Guillen on the double by López.
make that 2 – 0. I like that we’re getting EZ some run support early on — help take some of the pressure off the young guy.
make that 2 – 0. I like that we’re getting EZ some run support early on — help take some of the pressure off the young guy.
And an RBI groundout by Dunn. 2-0.
What’s going on with ¿Livan? He’s really off his game this year.
Guys, I’m away from a tv or radio or computer. All I have is my blackberry, so keep me updated!
Please?
Encarnacion with a two-out double before Philips grounds out. 3-0. Seriously, what is up with ¿Livan? I’d be seriously worried if I was a Nationals fan. Their announcers (once again I am broadening my horizons, seeing if the Nationals’ radio guys are any good) say that he’s given up 12 first-inning runs this year so far. ERA is now 7.86 for the season.
Soriano leads off with a single off of The Lizard.
Vidro flies out to deep left field for out #1; Dunn did not really set up well for the catch and Soriano speeds to second.
Line-drive single by Nick Johnson, the Nationals spoil the shutout here in the first. 3-1 Reds.
Toughen up, Liz!!
Guillen strikes out swinging, 2 out in the first. Just prior to strike 3, DC radio team says that The Lizard throws strikes but needs to learn how to make major-league hitters expand the strike zone.
Lots of foul territory at RFK…Zimmerman fouls out to LLM, first inning over.
So he has to learn how to make major league hitters swing at pitches out of the strike zone?
BTW, when did Davey Lopes get as old as Frank Robinson?
LLM with a triple! Soriano dived for the slicing linedrive but couldn’t get it.
The Lizard grounds out weakly, LLM stays put. 1 out in the second.
The “expand the zone” thing is something I heard about Elizardo last year, too. I think this is code for, ‘he doesn’t have a lot of deception on his pitches.’
Finally! The Brennaman/Stewart conversation regarding George Washington is over! Back to baseball!
Hit-and-run with Freel on-base and López at the plate. Felipe Jr. singles to drive in LLM and Freel goes to third. Dunn grounds into a doubleplay to follow.
4-1 Reds.
It would be interesting the thoughts behind what the experts think Ramirez needs to do in order to “expand” his zone. Is it ball movement? Is it location?
The DC announcers aren’t so hung up on George Washington – they are much more concerned with their pitcher coming off knee surgery in the winter. Top speed tonight on the radar gun is 85mph.
Nice inning by Lizzie!
Elizardo throws strikes, so it would seem that he can locate. It’s probably movement, as well as the willingness to throw inside with a purpose.
Well, McCoy had no light to shed on what the Cody Ross acquisition means in terms of Junior coming off the DL on Friday.
7-pitch inning gets three outs for the Lizard. Still 4-1 after two complete.
I can see backing off hitters as a means of expanding the strike zone. Most of the Reds staff is guilty of that.
Speculation is that Quin-Ton will be sent back to the minors to make room for Griffey. But that’s not until the end of the week.
FYI Chad – the Reds’ lineup tonight looks pretty typical, no major shenanigans…Dunn is hitting 3rd and Hatteberg is batting fifth, sandwiched around Kearns.
Quick inning of his own from ¡Livan!
And a quick inning from The Lizard. Still 4-1 after three.
Pitch count thus far:
19-7-9
I can’t see McCracken being sent down the way he seems to be adored by management.
Long fly by King Philips caught at the 380 sign. Definitely a homer just about anywhere else.
Valentin is questing for the cycle – there’s the single. with one out.
Middle of the 4th, still 4-1. Reds are hitting a lot of balls hard.
It almost has to be McCracken that gets sent down. The only other possibilities are a) Aurilia or Hatteberg or Ross gets traded; b)a major trade goes down, maybe for Kearns or LLM or LaRue; c) the Reds decide to carry one fewer pitcher, perhaps sending Rick White away.
A McCracken demotion seems the most likely move of these.
Three groundballs to Felipe Jr., Edwin, and Felipe Jr. again. Elizardo has retired 11 in a row since the first-inning jitters. 4-1 after 4.
Pitch count through four innings:
19-7-9-10
Good thing we got to Hernandez early because Liván has got his groove on.
Sounds like ¡Livan!’s curveball is practically an eephus pitch, mph in the low-60’s. Kearns is confused and strikes out swinging.
Reds go down in order. Turning into a pitcher’s duel.
I think it means a trade, which still might mean a Rick White takes a demotion. Krivsky certainly isn’t shy about making a trade much unlike his predecessor.
Kearns must have been dealing with the confusion by not catching a ball that he usually gets. Hopefully, Thin Lizzie shakes it off and stays tough.
Man, Elizardo is really going great guns. 12 consecutive batters retired…
…until “Rolls” Royce Clayton drives a double to the opposite field. Kearns had a chance to make a running catch but hit off the thumb of his glove. Not scored an error.
Phillips, the Vacuum!
Philips robs Snyder of a hit with a leaping catch, nearly doubles off Royce at 2b. ¡Livan! coming up.
Groundout, inning over. Still 4-1 after 5.
Pitch count through five innings:
19-7-9-10-12
This is freaky! Our conversation tonight is primarily about positive pitching and defense.
Pinch me! I’m dreaming!
While Phillips is a cool 1 for 3 so far today, he continues to put the ball into play. He has drastically cut down on his strikeouts!
Rolls Royce is smooth – takes a hit away from LLM. Reds retired in the 6th. Only Reds hit since the second was a 4th inning single by Valentin.
Hernandez is at 100 pitches, but he is of course renowned for his ability to eat Pitcher Abuse Points for breakfast.
One-out single by Vidro prompts stirrings in the Reds bullpen. DC announcers note that Elizardo has not reached a 3-ball count on any batter.
And as soon as I type that, he goes to a full count on walk-machine Nick Johnson.
Seven of the past eight years he has pitched 200 innings or more. The one year he didn’t he only pitched 199.7 innings.
He can’t be tired. I hope if isn’t suffering from the infamous Cincinnati pitching lapses of concentration.
How long will Ramirez pitch? How deep has he gone with the Bats?
Ball 4 to Nick Johnson. First free pass Elizardo has issued this year, at any level. Someone’s warming in the bullpen.
Elizardo doesn’t have a lot of stamina. When I saw him for the first time last year, it was a similar sight: he looked really good through about 5 innings, then started giving up walks and easy hits.
Great! Valentin has to translate! How do you say “How do you feel?” iin Spanish?
Slow the game down, Eddie!
RBI single for Guillen, 4-2 Reds. Hume visits the mound.
And the DC announcers are confused about Vern Ruhle, just like Uecker was. The Reds ought to read their media notesheets aloud to these guys to make sure they get it.
E-5!
I hope that doesn’t ruin a well pitched effort
How many runs do the Reds have to score to send the kid back out? 2-3?
EdE leaps to get the high chopper, taps third for the second out of the inning, then hurries his throw unnecessarily and fires it into the dugout. 2nd and 3rd, two out.
Then Church pops out on the first pitch to end the inning. 4-2 after 6.
Something tells me LLM translated it to, “Quit being a wuss and get these hitters out!”
Pitch count through six innings:
19-7-9-10-12-17
Sounds like the ball doesn’t travel well here
Valentin flies out to deep left. Looks like no cycle tonight.
Lizzie is going back out since he is hitting. Hernandez about takes his head off on a bunt attempt. Lizzie retaliates by blooping his first big league hit!
screaming flying duck snort to left
That’s right – I forgot that Elizardo does not speak English. How interesting. Nice to have LLM to help out.
Elizardo bats for himself, and lines it over Royce for his first major-league hit! Congratulations!
Well, “lines it” may have been a little strong, but they’ll all look like linedrives in the boxscore tomorrow.
Hernandez is up to 88mph, which the DC guys say is the fastest pitch they’ve seen out of ¡Livan! all year.
Combination of not carrying well and being one of the larger cookie cutter stadiums.
88mph…maybe now he can travel through time, back to when he was a great pitcher.
Maybe it takes Hernandez six innings to get warmed up!
Dave Williams can only dream of throwing 88 mph.
Should be an interesting match up tomorrow between Dave “I am horrible” Williams and Ramón “I am a big baby” Ortiz.
Elizardo K’s the first two batters in the seventh, both swinging. Pinch-hitter for ¡Livan! comes to bat.
Ramon Ortiz v. Dave Williams? If ever there was a candidate for a slugfest game in RFK, tomorrow is it.
This DC bullpen is tough. Still 4-2 after 7½.
Elizardo comes out for the eighth but gives up a leadoff single to Soriano and comes out. Looks like Shackelford coming in, Coffey getting warm.
Great job by The Lizard. Best major-league outing of his career, in line for a well-deserved win.
Long ball not long enough…this time
We aren’t out of the woods yet
Hit and run on 0-1 pitch, Vidro flies out to the warning track in left. Soriano can’t take advantage of Dunn this time, since he was standing on second while the ball was being caught.
Pitch count through seven innings:
19-7-9-10-12-17-17
Nice effort, Liz!
With thos two pitchers going tomorrow night, Marty might break into a review of american idol!
Soriano trying hard on the basepaths to disrupt the Love Shack, and does so – Shackelford hits Johnson. Runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. Coffey coming in. We are fortunate that our toughest reliever is not the appointed closer, so Narron can go to Coffey in these types of tough situations. Lets hope he can get it done.
Apparently Coffey sprinted to the mound from the bullpen. Definitely trying to earn the ‘closer’ label.
Almost a 5-4-3 doubleplay, but relay from Philips was wide. Runner on 1st, two out here in the 8th.
Inning over, flyout. We go to the ninth, Cincinnati 4, Washington 2.
Philips steals his first base of the year. I was wondering when he’d finally get around to it. Although you could say that he stole home the other day when he scored from second on that infield single.
The King’s name is spelled “Phillips,” with two L’s. I’d better make an effort to get that right.
Aurilia pinch-hitting for Coffey with two out and Phillips on third. Flyout. Last chance for the Nationals coming up, Reds 4, Nationals 2.
Weathers walks Church on four pitches to lead off the ninth.
ball 4 to the leadoff hitter…boy could we use a true blue closer
I think my resting heart rate at this point is a scant 165… This bullpen is going to kill me
I think my resting heart rate at this point is a scant 165… This bullpen is going to be the end of me
1-2 pitch, swing and a miss strike 3. Royce Clayton K’s for the first out.
Felipe drops a slow groundball to blow the chance at a double play…but he managed to pick it up and throw to first just in time for the out, with the catcher running. Two out, runner on second, still 4-2.
Interesting – Aurilia stayed in the game, replacing EdE at third base.
Congrats guys!!!!!
Little liner to center, Freel has it. Reds win, 4-2.
Andy Pettitte has a no-hitter through 6 against the Dodgers. Astros lead 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th.
That was a really quick game. Good pitching by the reds in that one, and just enough offense. It’s really good to see wins like that.
Just like that, as soon as I flip to the Houston-LA gameday, JD Drew homers to break up the Pettitte no-hit bid, and tie that game at one.
To follow up, a grandslam by Nomar in the ninth, off of Brad Lidge in a save situation, puts LA up 5-2. Reds could be within a half game of first place again shortly.
I just got back from tonight’s game at RFK. I did not see Ramirez’s start last year for the Reds, so I was not hopeful, but he looked promising. He threw strikes and consistently varied the speeds of his pitches; that’s three-quarters of the battle for me and better than most of the Reds bullpen at least. Did he look good on tv?
Coffey sprinted faster than I’ve ever seen a pitcher run to the mound. I am astounded that he had that kind of speed.
Coffey must be cutting down on the Jello!
Reds and Houston tied for the most wins in the majors currently!
Let’s win these next two then come home to battle the ’stros. I hope the fans turn out to rock Great American this weekend!
Coffey’s upper body looked like Jell-o as he sprinted in. Dude’s lost a lot of weight, but could still use a man-zier (bro). Phillips and the ump (at least) were having a good laugh.
Let’s win these next two then come home to battle the ’stros. I hope the fans turn out to rock Great American this weekend!
Comment by Jim McCullough — 4/24/2006 @ 11:16 pm
If there is such a thing as a big series this early in the season — this one is it.
If our Redlegs.. win the Houston series this weekend then watch out for this team because that means that we have handled every team in our division. Not only would that be impressive but given the teams in our division; that’s huge! Good luck Cinci!
We didn’t handle the Cards, but I think it was a positive that we could have/should have taken that series as well. As long as we keep winning series openers, we’re gonna stay in the race!