What an Ugly Start

Just looking at the 11-2 final is ugly enough. But the Cincinnati Reds started ugly last night.

Top if the 1st. After a Brandon Phillips strike out to begin the game, Laynce Nix doubled and Giants starter Matt Cain walked Joey Votto. First and second with only one out with Scott Rolen at the plate. Rolen’s seven pitch at-bat resulted in a strike out swinging. Jim Edmonds followed and took the first pitch from Cain and flied out to deep center field. An area where the Reds have excelled in 2010, average with runners in scoring position, turned its back on the Redlegs. No runs after having runners on first and second with only one out. Ouch.

Cincinnati Reds starter Edinson Volquez warms up during an MLB spring training game in Sarasota, Florida, in this March 23, 2009 file photo. Volquez became the first Major League Baseball player in nearly a year to receive a 50-game suspension for violating the league

Volqez's line: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 K - Source: Yardbarker

Bottom of the 1st. What else can be said about Edinson Volquez last night. No control. No command. Volquez faced ten Giants…and retired only two of them. He threw 39 pitches…and only 19 resulted in strikes. And when Volquez was over the plate, the Giants took advantage. After walking Angel Torres for the second time in the inning, Reds manager Dusty Baker lifted Volquez for Jordan Smith. Smith retired Buster Posey on strikes. After one inning, Giants 5, Reds 0.

Top of the 3rd. With two outs, Nix singled and Votto followed with a ground rule double. Rolen, presented with a chance to redeem himself, tripled into “triple’s alley” in right center to plate Nix and Votto. Giants 5, Reds 2. Maybe it’s not so bad after all…except that the Reds would manage only one more hit after the 3rd.

Bottom of the 3rd. It can be summed up with three words. Angel Torres homer. A two-run homer at that. The lead was instantly stretched back to five runs and that was the game. After scoring two in the top of the inning, it was paramount that Smith keep the Giants off the board. The only bad pitch he threw all evening in 4.1 innings of relief work. Outside of that one pitch, Smith was solid. Really solid. He saved the bullpen for the last two games of the series.

Coupled with a Cardinals win, the Reds lead in the NL Central slipped to 2.5 games.

Tonight, the Reds look to right the ship with Travis Freakin’ Wood (4-1, 2.51 ERA) taking the bump against Jonathan Sanchez (9-8, 3.47 ERA). Gametime is 10:15 PM ET.