Today’s games
Who: Pirates (McCutchen 0-0 and Maholm 7-7) at Reds (Wells 0-3 and Cueto 8-10)
When: Doubleheader, 1:10 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.
TV: Both games on Fox Sports Ohio.
Radio: WONE (980 AM) or WLW (700 AM).
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds passed out stuffed monkeys before the game and then darned if they didn’t make monkeys out of themselves trying to hit Los Angeles pitching.
They scored two runs in 12 innings on eight hits and struck out 20 times, permitting the Dodgers to hang around long enough to score a 3-2 victory.
It was the most strikeouts in one game by Los Angeles pitchers since a game in 1972 — 22 strikeouts against the Reds.
The Dodgers struggled as much as the Reds, until they saw closer Coco Cordero stroll to the mound for another eventful and game-turning performance.
He walked Manny Ramirez to open the 12th and with one out Juan Castro doubled to left center. Andre Ethier was walked intentionally to fill the bases and the winning run scored on a deep sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp.
In Cordero’s last five appearances he has given up seven hits and five walks over 4 1/3 innings, and even when he has recorded saves, he has caused heart palpitations in the Cincinnati dugout.
What makes matters dire for the Reds is that manager Dusty Baker ran five pitchers out there, including starter Bronson Arroyo, and the Reds have a doubleheader today against the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the Battle for the Bottom reconvenes.
“Our pitching is really jumbled a lot now and the last thing we needed today was a 12-inning game,” said Baker. “We have to bring another pitcher in here before tomorrow’s game.”
The strikeout parade began against Dodger lefthander Clayton Kershaw, whose name sounds more like a country fiddler than a major-league pitcher, but the Reds certainly fiddled around against him. He struck out 11 in his seven innings.
“Kershaw is one of the best young lefthanders we’ve seen this year, throwing 95 and 96 with a good breaking ball,” said Baker. “He was dealing and we didn’t have much chance.”
The Reds scored their only runs in the second when Darnell McDonald, who was a No. 1 draft choice by the Baltimore Orioles 12 years ago, hit his first major-league home run with Scott Rolen on base.
“That game went so long I almost forgot about my home run,” said McDonald. “It felt good, but would have felt better with a win. And I would have loved to have hit a home run off my cousin (LA’s James McDonald). I was on deck to face him but didn’t get up there.”
McDonald was the winning pitcher, giving up no runs, one hit and striking out two in the 11th.
Arroyo didn’t give up a hit until the fifth when Kemp launched his 24th home run and the Dodgers then tied it on Kershaw’s single off shortstop Paul Janish’s glove.
“That’s a play Janish usually makes, but that ball took some crazy hops out there today and that was the difference. They say, ‘Follow the bouncing ball,’ and that ball was bouncing,” said Baker. “The ball just seems to never bounce our way.”
In his last seven outings, Arroyo has not given up more than three runs and has pitched at least 6 1/3 innings each time. For his time and effort he has been rewarded with one win (1-3, 2.26 ERA).
“It has been a tough stretch for me since the All-Star break,” said Arroyo. He has mutual companionship because the Reds are 14-28 since the All-Star break.
“I’ve gone out there 10 or 11 times since the break and thrown the ball pretty good,” he said. “It’s a battle, man, especially against good teams. We were lucky to get two runs from McDonald’s home run and I couldn’t lock it down.
“I couldn’t get the pitcher out (Kershaw’s game-tying single) and I needed to strike him out,” Arroyo added. “But scrappy teams like the Dodgers, who have playoff experience, usually find ways to keep the game close enough. It is hard to beat a team like that, 2-1.”
Or 3-2.
About the Author