Game 99, 2013: Reds 11, Giants 0

Jay Bruce

[Box Score]

I loved how the Reds treated that big pitcher’s park in San Francisco like it was a little league homer park last night. The Reds got home runs from Shin-soo Choo, Devin Mesoraco, and Jay Bruce to pad an 11-0 win over the Giants, sending Tim Lincecum to the showers after 3 and 2/3 innings and getting into the Giants bullpen early the day before a doubleheader. It’s keys like that which should win you a series in baseball; and winning a series to start a West Coast trip is no small order.

Shane Robinson added three hits, and Todd Frazier had two including a bases clearing double in the first inning that put the Reds up 3-0. Robinson also made a terrific catch.

The Reds again find themselves with a chance to get things rolling – they’ve won three of four games since play resumed after the All-Star Break and are within 4 and 1/2 games of the Cardinals in the NL Central. But the 2013 Reds MO has been one of teasing so far. They win one, and then they come out flat. They look like they’re really going to get rolling and then they fail to keep their fans excited and momentum rolling. They haven’t had a true run this season where you could say they’re completely ‘hot’ to this point.

It would be just like the Reds after a big win last night in which they were firing on all cylinders (Bronson Arroyo threw a complete game shutout, so the pitching staff is rested coming into today) to come out and either split today after blowing a lead or somehow lose both.

IF the Reds can manage two wins today in two ballgames, that’s a big deal. Some of the great Reds teams of the past (1999 Reds, 2010 Reds) went into San Francisco and made it a rallying point of their West Coast trip. Today is a huge day in the constant pendulum swing that is the 2013 Cincinnati Reds season.