Game 5, 2011: Reds 12, Astros 4

[Box Score] [Liveblog] [Cincinnati.com Reds blog]

Observations:

Edinson Volquez was largely awful for an inning or two to begin the game, but once he settled in; the Reds got their sea legs underneath them and they proved to be a team that is going to dictate the pace.

The rally got started with a Jay Bruce single to right field with the team already trailing 4-0. Ramon Hernandez singled him to third and a single by Paul Janish brought him in to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Volquez went out in the top of the 3rd and retired the ‘Stros 1-2-3. The Reds came to bat the next inning and went right back to work after a Drew Stubbs groundout. Phillips walked, Votto singled on a line drive to center, and Scott Rolen plated them both with a big double to the left centerfield wall. It was then 4-3. Bruce infield singled, Heisey reached on an error that tied the game at 4, and the Reds then pulled off a double steal that Dusty Baker took straight out of the Roger Craig/San Francisco Giants playbook.

The Reds wouldn’t stop grinding from there, as they piled on 12 unanswered runs in total and threw Aroldis Chapman, Billy Bray, Logan Ondrusek and Coco Cordero at the Astros hitters after Volquez left at the completion of 5 innings. It should be noted while Volquez walked the town, he also struck out 8 hitters last night. So he was effectively wild.

Phillips and Janish had three hits a piece, with Janish driving in two runners and adding a stolen base. The Reds are 5-0 for the first time since 1990; looking for a sweep of the first homestand. Times are good, life is good.

Star of the Game:

Janish. He could have had four hits. I thought that his reaching base on error should have been a hit, but Angel Sanchez was charged with an error. Janish is slashing the ball all over the park. He’s making gold glove plays every night. And we were right, thus far. The Reds knew something everyone else didn’t in terms of their starting shortstop. He can hit enough to be an everyday player with that glove. And in this lineup, he’s a nice little complimentary part. “Soft-J” is going to be just fine.

Top Plays:

Phillips aggressive base running leads to a run

Renteria’s first hit as a Red

Janish gets the Reds on the board