Bruce’s Funkblast and Bailey’s Tenacity Leads Reds to 4-1 Win Over Mets

On a night where every starting position player accounted for one hit, you had to make that one hit mean something. Jay Bruce did that. He took an 0-2 offering from Mets starter Jonathon Niese, a curveball at that, and sent it soaring some 418 feet into the Big Apple airspace.

And those three words I love to see appeared on MLB’s Gameday: In play, run(s).

With Zack Cozart, who led off the game with a single, and Wilson Valdez on base, the score was 3-0 after Bruce crossed the plate.

And that was all the run support Homer Bailey needed. The Reds starter pitched eight innings and tossed 103 pitches en route to his 5th win of the season. The only run the Mets would muster was on a first-inning David Wright double. After that, the Mets had their fair share of opportunities, but failed to convert on any of them. In Bailey’s 8 innings of work, he had four 1-2-3 innings. In the others, not counting the 1st, New York would put a runner on second with either none or one out. Each time Homer held the fort.

Aroldis Chapman pitched the 9th to preserve the win and earn his 8th save. This time out, it wasn’t a dose of straight heat. Nope. The Cuban Missle also splashed a changeup into the game.

According to Pitch F/X data from BrooksBaseball.net, Chapman threw four sliders. Not two. Not three. Four…and all were strikes. That is a more promising sign than having an outing and not giving up any hits because it has been said (here and other places) that Chapman throwing only smoke is not a good thing.

Well, Chapman had a little variety last night.

The Reds go for the sweep of the Mets and a second series sweep in a row with a 1:10 start. Johnny Cueto (7-3, 2.46 ERA, 1.163 WHIP) and Chris Young (1-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.688 WHIP) are the starting pitchers. Young will be making his third start of the season while Cueto will look to add to his All-Star Game candidacy with another good performance.

Reds prospect Corcino tosses combined no-no

We’ve been hearing about Daniel Corcino for a couple of years now. Now, you know why. Last evening Corcino pitched 8 innings…and allowed no-hits. Blue Wahoos manager Jim Riggleman was booed when he pulled Corcino down for pinch-hitter Josh Fellhauer in the 8th. Got the feeling Riggleman has heard that stuff before.

Corcino had thrown 110 pitches to that point. Had this been a game in the bigs, no question Corcino comes out for the 9th. Neat to be a part of a no-hitter (as tweeted by Corcino’s teammates) and neat to be in attendance for one, but this kid has more innings and wins in front of him.

Wilkin De La Rosa pitched the 9th to finish the feat.

I’m not 100% sure what’s happening down there in Pensacola (I’d love to get down there and find out), but I know this, they are drawing the fans. The Blue Wahoos had yet another sellout on hand to witness this feat. Yes, 5,038 (and maybe even a few more) have a great story to tell.

I bet they want to take this back…

Being Sunday, there’s only one night game tonight and ESPN has it. I wonder if they could have flex scheduling in the MLB like the NFL has because the game tonight, while it will draw a few straggling fans, isn’t exactly a great match-up. The AL East last-place Boston Red Sox will play host to the NL Central last-place Chicago Cubs.

We all know why this is the game the execs at the Mothership selected. Money, as in it won’t be much to have the crew go to Boston.

Actually, I wouldn’t have minded seeing a game from the battle of Missouri (Kansas City and St. Louis) or even one from the Battle of Florida (Miami and Tampa Bay). I wouldn’t mind a Nationals-Yankees game either. Far better games than what will be subject to watching. Maybe this is a game where we initiate “reverse blackout” rules. Only shown in these two markets.

I would like at least one of the teams playing to own a winning record.

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