Braves Bounce Bailey, Reds With 5-2 Win

Jul 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Bailey pitches in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

We just can’t get a winning streak going now, can we? The Braves bested the Reds today by a final of 5-2. The loss sees the Reds with a 52-42 record and still looking up the division at the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates.

After last night’s win, I thought there was possibly some hope that the Good Guys could get on a roll. Alas, wasn’t meant to be. How would someone express disappointment with seeing the mounting losses?

Feel a little better…

I know. They’re still 10 games over .500. Still, have to wonder…

Today’s game started well. Didn’t end that way.

Cincy plated a pair of runs in the second inning. Corky Miller drove one home with a groundout and Shin-Soo Choo pushed the other across. The Reds never scored again as Atlanta’s Mike Minor held the Reds at bat for the remainder of his outing. Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth to close out the game.

Wanna hear something I’m sure you already know.

Since his no-hitter, Homer Bailey has been, well, hittable. In two games and 11.2 innings of work, Homer has allowed 20 hits and 8 runs, all earned. Bailey has also served up a pair of home runs with both games being away from Great American Ball Park. Okay, was at Miller Park, but it’s still not GABP.

And did I see this correctly? Another game where Dusty didn’t have Zack Cozart batting second? I thought he said Cozart was the guy? Apparently, something’s changed. Well, today it could have been that since Mike Minor, a lefty, was starting for Atlanta, Baker decided to have Choo bat second and put Chris Heisey in the lead-off spot.

Worked okay, I guess. Heisey was 1-for-4 and Choo was 2-for-4. Heisey also scored the run that Choo sent home.

I’d like to know how in the world Atlanta won this one. None of their regular starting outfielders played! So both the Upton and Jason Heyward are hurt. The damage came from their replacements: Jose Constanza, Reed Johnson (who I thought wouldn’t start a game in this series) and Joey Terdoslavich. Terdoslavich was playing in his eighth MLB game.

This trio was a combined 7-for-11. Even Minor got in on the act and had 2 RBI.

And the Reds need to devise a new plan of how to pitch to one Brian McCann. I know he’s held success against Bronson Arroyo and Homer – as I indicated the other day – but homers in back-to-back games might be an indication that the current plan isn’t working all that well.

Tomorrow is an even earlier game as we are closing in on the All-Star break. First pitch from Atlanta is scheduled for 1:35 PM EDT. Probable starters are Tony Cingani (3-1, 3.30 ERA) for the Reds and Julio Teheran (7-4, 3.09 ERA) gets the call for the Braves.

A win would mean a split of the series. Gotta have something to hang my hat on…