2012 Reds Recall: ‘The Streak’

This is my final 2012 Reds Recall. Why? There’s more than one reason.

The Reds 2012 season was defined by so many things: the move of Aroldis Chapman to the closer’s role, the continuing maturation of Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, the ToddFather. This is such a short list. There is much more that could and should be added.

For me, when I look back at the 2012 season, I still cannot get over the fact the Reds ran off a ten-game winning streak.

July 19, 2012: Cincinnati 7, Arizona 6

The game that started the streak didn’t start out like it would be the beginnings of something special. Heading into the bottom of the 6th, the Reds were tailing the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0. Mike Leake surrendered those six runs in 5.1 innings while allowing 11 hits and two home runs.

Two things…

First, this was a BP game. Brandon Phillips got the ball rolling in this comeback with a three-run homer off Joe Saunders in the bottom of the 6th. BP would also push across the tying run in the bottom of the 7th when he doubled to plate both Drew Stubbs and Wilson Valdez. Philips would score the winning run on a Todd Frazier single.

Second, the bullpen was masterful. In a combined 3.2 innings of work, Alfredo Simon, Logan Ondrusek, Sean Marshall and Aroldis Chapman would allow only three hits.

July 20: Cincinnati 3, Milwaukee 1

All three Reds runs came from solo shots. Zack Cozart hit his in the 4th. Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen each hit one in the 6th. That is all Homer Bailey would need as he went 8 innings, allowing only the one run on six hits and whiffed 10 Brewer batters.

Steak at 2…

July 21: Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 2

The Good Guys never looked back in this one as they scored for times in the home half of the first inning. They would add a pair in the 7th. The bullpen was once again stellar as it would surrender only one hit in three innings.

Streak at 3…

July 22: Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 1

All the runs in this game were scored in the third inning. The Brewers would gain a 1-0 advantage on an Aramis Ramirez single that plated Norichika Aoki. The Redlegs would counter with a pair in the bottom of the frame. A Wilson Valdez single would score Chris Heisey. Valdez was later cross the plate on a BP sacrifice fly.

Johnny Cueto would scatter eight hits in seven innings of work.

Streak at 4…

July 23: Cincinnati 8, Houston 3

Going to Minute Maid Park in 2012 usually led to a win…for many teams. The Reds were no different.

Entering the top of the 7th, Cincy held a 3-2 lead. By the time they had finished their half of the inning, the scoreboard showed a score of 5-2. After their AB in the 8th, it was 8-2.

What was a little odd about this game was that the Reds scored as many runs as they did without hitting a home run. Both Todd Frazier and Ryan Ludwick were both 3-for-6 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Streak at 5…

July 24: Cincinnati 4, Houston 2

One of those games where it looked like the streak could end. Mike Leake surrendered only a pair of runs in the Astros 4th. In all, he allowed only seven hits in eight innings. The bad: one of those hits was a two-run home run by Jason Maxwell. The Reds would get one back in the 6th on a Xavier Paul infield single, but as they entered the 9th inning, down by one run, they were set to square off against a familiar face: Francisco Cordero.

Just forward to the 1:30 mark and enjoy (especially if you’re a Drew Stubbs fan)…

Kind of rude, huh? Not really.

Streak at 6…

July 25: Cincinnati 5, Houston 3

The Astros would score three in the bottom of the 8th to take a 3-2 lead.

Once again, Cordero would get the call. Once again, Stubbs provided the heroics. This time it wasn’t a hoe run which propelled the Reds to a win. It was a two-run double with two outs that would help send the Reds to the final winning margin.

Streak at 7…

July 27: Cincinnati 3, Colorado 0

Look at the score again. Now once more. Would you believe this game was played at Coors Field? Would you also believe that Bronson Arroyo would pitch 6.2 innings of shutout ball at Coors Field? Both statements are true.

Streak at 8…

July 28: Cincinnati 9, Colorado 7

A little back-and-forth took place during this game. The Rockies plated three in the bottom of the first off Johnny Cueto. The Good Guys would score two in the 2nd and one in the 3rd to knot the game at 3 apiece. The Rockies would immediately re-take the lead in the bottom of the 3rd, 4-3.

The Reds would take the lead for good in the 5th when they crossed the plate four times, a they added another run in the 6th to take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the 7th. The Rockies weren’t done as they would score twice on a Michael Cuddyer two-run homer to pull the Rox to within 8-7. That’s as close as it got.

That Cuddyer home run was the only one Colorado hit. The Reds? They hit five: Ryan Ludwick hit a pair and Drew Stubbs, Scott Rolen and Todd Frazier hit one each.

Streak at 9…

July 29: Cincinnati 7, Colorado 2

The two Rockies runs came in their first AB off Mat Latos. After that, Colorado could only muster three hits off Mat. The Reds offense would support Latos with single runs in each of the firs three innings. They would add three more runs in the 5th, two of those was on a Stubbs home run (He had himself quite a road trip…) with the other on a Jay Bruce solo shot.

Streak at 10…

And we all know what followed.