Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 10 > Entry
A lost and found weekend
From the Lost & Found Dept.: The Cincinnati Reds lost a game, then found a way to win the second game … and my bag was found.
And maybe Bronson Arroyo found himself, pitching a gem-dandy in Game 2 Saturday against the Mets - eight innings, one run, four hits. He was lifted after throwing 115 pitches and with the Reds owning a 7-1 lead in the ninth.
At least I think my bag was found. The US Airways web site says it was shipped to my hotel, but I haven’t been there yet to confirm its arrival. The 800 number you can call is a series of prompts asking you to talk to a recorded voice, which cut off on me four times.
Finally, I got a real person, but his English was bad and my Spanish is worse and I think he said my name and seven or eight indistinguishable words.
Anyway, when I walk into my room tonight I expect a happy reunion between me and my AWOL bag.
For the Reds, they have a chance for a winning trip, even if it is a three-game mini-trip. By splitting Saturday’s day-night doubleheader, losing 12-6 and winning 7-1, if the Reds win today they have a winning trip for only the second time in their last 20 trips.
And they snapped a six-game road losing streak before they finish the series/trip with the New York Mets Sunday afternoon.
Both teams must have left their bats out in the rain Friday. Six bats were shattered in the first three innings with splinters flying hither and yon.
Much-beleaguered Arroyo started Game 2 by striking out the side and then was in and out of trouble with only one-run damage in the first half of the game.
He struck out the side again in the seventh inning as he seems to make Mets-meat out of the NL New York team. He has five complete games in his career, three against the Mets.
No complete-game this time, but he had his Met sandwich.
Isn’t it funny how baseball works? In Game 1 the Reds ripped pitching icon John Santana for 10 hits in six innings and lost the game by six runs.
In Game 2 they faced some Toto from Kansas named Mike Pelfrey and had two runs against him in six innings. When he left, they scored two in the eighth.
Jeff Keppinger once upon a time wore a Mets uniform but they found him not to their liking and got rid of him. In Game 2, he had five hits, setting a career-best and scored two runs.
Scott Hatteberg, getting a rare start at first base, had three hits right behind Keppinger and drove in two runs.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a subway to catch to see if my bag and I are truly reunited. If so, I’m going to a walkway near the hotel on Times Square with a Padron ‘64 cigar and a novel I’m reading and relax for the first time since I boarded an airplane at 7 a.m. Friday.
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Comments
By HuberTucky
May 11, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
I said I’d be the first to admit I was wrong, so here it is: I was wrong. Reds salvaged a game in Gotham. Bronson pitched an absolute gem. Man, I truly hope this is his “ah ha” moment and that he has located his magic as well as his change of speeds and moving the ball around. THIS is why they pay him huge $. Welcome back, BA, now please keep up the good work that you are oh so capable of doing. But I fear the Reds doing the same as 2004, 05, 06, 07… teasing us and bobbing up and down like a fishing float. Consistency, guys, is where it’s at! But still, Corey P batting leadoff again? Hmmmmmmmm. Not good.By Terry
May 11, 2008 3:58 AM | Link to this
You keep saying in “Ask Hal” that the Cubs and Astros are hot for Dunn. That doesn’t make sense to me as where would he play on those teams? The Cubs have Soriano and Fukudome on the corners and the Astros have Lee and Pence. And Lee and Berkman at first. So how does Dunn fit?By jason
May 10, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
just letting you know that no matter how badly the redlegs continue to disappoint, i log into your blog daily and i deeply appreciate your work. ive been reading your articles since i was a little kid living in dayton to now residing in toledo, ohio and 29 years old. thanks hal. keep up the hall of fame work.By steve
May 10, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
I hope you’re finally reunited with your bag Hal. Have a relaxing nite in the city and have a much better trip home. What a shot in the arm Bronson was tonight.