Never Say Die

Brandon Phillips’ walk-off bomb off Fernando Salas with two out in the bottom of the 9th last night reminds us all that we need to have faith until all 27 outs have been collected. I have to admit, I packed it in. I thought the Reds were finished and was about to tweet things like ‘guys should start getting their own #’s because wins and losses do not matter anymore for this group’.

Phillips hit a two run homer just moments after Albert Pujols got his own, and the Reds had last serve and took the game 6-5.

In my opinion, that was the biggest swing all season for the Reds. Phillips said it was the biggest home run of his career. And they begin the second half of the season just as they began the first, with a huge and unlikely walk-off homer to beat a division opponent.

It’s all what you do from here, no doubt. But Brandon Phillips–the heart and soul of the Cincinnati Reds–lifted this roster from the depths of huge trouble and bring them into Saturday with a chance to keep on rolling and be spoken for in this thing. The Central is now tied with the Cardinals and Pirates, yes the Pirates; at the top of the division. This is going to be a four way dance for a while and the Reds are going to have to be very steady about .500 and play to their Pythagorean to stay in this thing and leap frog teams.

They’re in for the fight of their lives. And after just the first round Brandon Phillips delivered a really big first punch.

And now a little 80’s.