Game 34, 2011: Reds 2, Cubs 0

[Box Score]
[Cincinnati.com]

Welcome back Johnny Cueto.

The Reds couldn’t have gotten this at a better time than now. Six innings of shutout baseball from Cueto, and he only allowed one walk. This combined with Homer Bailey’s effort earlier in the week, and Travis Wood’s improved outing have to have the Reds thinking that if they can keep hitting a little bit the pitching is going to be there for them to compete.

The Reds didn’t mount a ton of offense off of Ryan Demptster. Jay Bruce singled on a line drive to right field, got moved over by Johnny Gomes grounding out to the right side and then scored on a Ramon Hernandez single.

The other offensive source was Drew Stubbs–who also had two hits on the day. He homered to left field to make it 2-0, and the way that the Reds were throwing, it made it feel like an almost insurmountable lead for the Cubs to overtake.

The Reds take another series from an NL Central foe, and they’re now four up and one down in their last five; that only loss being Saturday when Francisco Cordero imploded in the ninth inning on FOX Saturday baseball.

Top Plays:

Ramon Hernandez gets the Reds on the board

Drew Stubbs big fly

Old man Cairo flashing leather down at third base

Potpourri

Jay Bruce didn’t wear any pink garments, but he used a pink bat to hit a couple of line drives yesterday. It was a really nice game for Bruce–singling twice, scoring a run, and walking on a day where the Reds had just five hits and one walk.

I was actually in Cincinnati for this game, we went to Eddie Merlot’s off 275 for a Mother’s Day buffet. Best food I’ve had in a long, long time.