Reds Rally, Score 9 in 9th to Thump Cards 13-4

So the Reds and the Cardinals renew what many term as one of baseball’s newest rivalries today. It was also the home opener for St. Louis. Might have given the game that little extra oomph, I suppose. Of course, whenever the Reds visit Busch III, there’s the added “attraction” of Brandon Phillips and we all know why that’s the case.

I’m willing to say that Shin-Soo Choo‘s first visit as a Red to Busch III would be one he would like to forget from a defensive perspective. With two outs in the home half of the first and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Yadier Molina hit a deep fly to straight away center field. Choo appeared to have the ball, but was a tad wobbly on his feet. The ball hit of Choo’s glove and as Choo attempted to catch the ball for a second time, he slipped and unable to bring the ball into his glove. Two unearned runs scored to push St. Louis to an early 2-0 lead.

The Reds got one back in the 4th, but it could have been more. With Brandon Phillips at the plate, he hit a grounder to Cards third baseman David Freese. Chris Heisey, who was on third, broke toward home and Freese fired to the plate. Molina caught the ball and was not even close to being in position to tag Heisey. Instead of sliding into home, Heisey slid as if he was attempting to break up a double play. All Molina had to do was put a simple tag on Heisey to record the inning’s first out.

Apr 8, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) hits a one run single during the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. (Photo: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)

Good thing Jay Bruce followed with an RBI single to score Joey Votto.

Didn’t take Molina long to get that run back. Following an Allen Craig double, the Cards catcher slapped a single to up the lead to two runs for a 3-1 Cards lead.

Enter BP. In the top of the 6th, BP golfed a Jaime Garcia pitch to center field for his second home run of the season to pull the Reds within one run at 3-2 Cards. So much for that as once again the Cards struck back in their half of the inning to up the lead back to a pair when Choo would be charged with yet another error of the bat of Molina. This time, only one run would score.

The Good Guys crept a run closer in the 7th as Chris Heisey would atone for his baserunning “adventure” with a double to score Ryan Hanigan. Cincy tied it a 4 a piece in the top of the 8th off Trevor Rosenthal. After a one out single by Bruce, Rosenthal drilled Todd Frazier above his left elbow. The stage was set for Xavier Paul, the Reds best bench bat. But there’s a little more to this.

Cars skipper Mike Matheny had no one warming up in his bullpen. Maybe, just maybe, Dusty took notice of that and sent Paul up to the plate and pulled down Zack Cozart. Maybe the move of the game.

Paul took the 8th pitch of the AB and stroked a single into right field, scoring Bruce and knotting the game.

That’s when the drama would end. In the top of the 9th, Cincinnati sent 15 men to the plate. Here’s how it went…

Pitching Change: Mitchell Boggs replaces Trevor Rosenthal, batting 3rd, replacing left fielder Matt Holliday.
Defensive Substitution: Shane Robinson replaces pitcher Trevor Rosenthal, batting 6th, playing left field.
1. Shin-Soo Choo walks.
2. Chris Heisey pops out to second baseman Daniel Descalso.
With Joey Votto batting, wild pitch by Mitchell Boggs, Shin-Soo Choo to 2nd.
3. Mitchell Boggs intentionally walks Joey Votto.
4. Brandon Phillips doubles (4) on a soft line drive to right fielder Carlos Beltran. Shin-Soo Choo scores. Joey Votto to 3rd.
5. Mitchell Boggs intentionally walks Jay Bruce.
6. Todd Frazier walks. Joey Votto scores. Brandon Phillips to 3rd. Jay Bruce to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan replaces Sam LeCure.
Coaching visit to mound.
7. Jack Hannahan singles on a ground ball to shortstop Pete Kozma, deflected by third baseman Matt Carpenter. Brandon Phillips scores. Jay Bruce to 3rd. Todd Frazier to 2nd.
8. Ryan Hanigan reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Pete Kozma. Jay Bruce scores. Todd Frazier to 3rd. Jack Hannahan to 2nd.
Pitching Change: Marc Rzepczynski replaces Mitchell Boggs, batting 3rd.
Coaching visit to mound.
9. Cesar Izturis singles on a line drive to right fielder Carlos Beltran. Todd Frazier scores. Jack Hannahan to 3rd. Ryan Hanigan to 2nd.
10. Shin-Soo Choo doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Shane Robinson. Jack Hannahan scores. Ryan Hanigan scores. Cesar Izturis scores.
11. Chris Heisey grounds out, second baseman Daniel Descalso to first baseman Allen Craig. Shin-Soo Choo to 3rd.
12. Joey Votto singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Shane Robinson. Shin-Soo Choo scores.
13. Brandon Phillips walks. Joey Votto to 2nd.
14. Jay Bruce singles on a ground ball to second baseman Daniel Descalso, deflected by pitcher Marc Rzepczynski. Joey Votto to 3rd. Brandon Phillips to 2nd.
15. Todd Frazier called out on strikes.

Did you catch all of that?

BP gave the Reds the lead at 5-4…and, as you can see, the floodgates completely opened soon after.

The line for Boggs: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 BB

Not to be lost was the combined efforts of the pitching staff. The Cards could only muster four hits. Starter Mat Latos, despite the four runs allowed, permitted only one earned run and appeared to be the leader of the Choo spirit squad. After his second dropped fly, Choo made his amends at the plate.

Line Score

W:LeCure (1-0), L:Boggs (0-1)

Box Score

Reds: a-Struck out for Latos in the 7th. b-Singled for Cozart in the 8th. c-Grounded out for Simon in the 8th. d-Singled for LeCure in the 9th.
Cards: a-Flied out for Choate in the 7th. b-Struck out for Molina, Y in the 9th.

REDS BATTING
2B: Heisey 2 (2, Garcia, J, Garcia, J), Phillips, B (4, Boggs), Choo (2, Rzepczynski).
HR: Phillips, B (2, 6th inning off Garcia, J, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Izturis, C; Choo 3; Phillips, B 6; Paul; Votto; Heisey 4; Hannahan; Bruce 4.
RBI: Bruce (5), Phillips, B 2 (7), Heisey (3), Paul (6), Frazier (10), Hannahan (1), Hanigan (2), Izturis, C (1), Choo 3 (6), Votto (2).
2-out RBI: Phillips, B; Heisey; Votto.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cozart; Votto 2; Izturis, C; Frazier 2.
Team RISP: 9-for-18.
Team LOB: 11.

REDS FIELDING
E: Choo 2 (2, fielding, fielding).
DP: (Cozart-Votto).

CARDS BATTING
2B: Craig (3, Latos).
TB: Molina, Y; Craig 2; Jay; Holliday.
RBI: Molina, Y (4).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Freese 2.
GIDP: Descalso.
Team RISP: 1-for-5.
Team LOB: 3.

CARDS FIELDING
E: Kozma (1, fielding).

Same two teams go at it tomorrow with pregame at 7:30 PM ET. Bronson Arroyo (1-0, 4.50 ERA) v. Lance Lynn (0-0, 9.00 ERA)