No Ice Cream or Pizza but the Reds Serve Another Win
No Ice Cream or Pizza but the Reds Serve Another Win
by Robb Hoff
August 2, 2012
Need Ryan Ludwick, one of the hottest hitters in Major League Baseaball right now to win?
No.
All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugging superstar Brandon Phillips?
Nope.
How about probably the very best hitter in the game in Joey Votto?
Naw, not the Cincinnati Reds. All they do is mix a little Miguel Cairo with some Tpdd Frazier, Zack Cozart and Ryan Hanigan and that apparently is more than enough.
The Reds pounded the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon and needed much of the output as usually dominant ace Johnny Cueto showed a little chink in the armor. Cueto hadn't given up a home run in 81-1/3 innings but was whacked for two Thursday.
Cueto picked up the win and struck out nine. He left the game one out into the eighth inning after aggravating an apparent leg injury when he covered the bag on an attempted double play ball. Cueto appeared to have tweaked something the inning before hustling down first base after a ground out but was able to return to the mound for the eighth.
The bullpen finished off the Padres and the relievers kept the sparse crowd interested in the last two inning for two simple reasons: LaRosa's Pizza and United Dairy Farmer ice cream.
You see, if the Reds pitchers strike out 11 or more batters, everyone in attendance can redeem their ticket for a small, LaRosa's pizza and a scoop of UDF's delectable ice cream.
Logan Ondrusek didn't add to Cuetos' strikeout total in the eighth, but Jose Arredondo notched one in the ninth before the Padres Mark Kotsay ran the count full.
With just one strikeout left to reach 11 for the game, the at-bat added to the afternoon's excitement, but Kotsay popped up and Reds fans had to redeem something else for their tickets:
Another win and the best record in baseball and a 3-1/2 game lead in the N.L. Central division.
