Reds Keep Best Record in Baseball; Broxton Gets Taste

by Robb Hoff

August 1, 2012

Once again the Cincinnati Reds relied on the long ball and their bullpen to bail out poor starting pitching. The 6-4 win kept the Reds lead in the N.L. Central division at three games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It also kept the Reds atop all of Major League Baseball with the best record in baseball.

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart led off the game with a home run before left fielder Ryan Ludwick was bombs away once again with a two-run shot for his 19th homer overall this year. The red-hot Ludwick finished with four RBI.

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo looked like he was going to have a short night but somehow managed to baffle enough hitters with his Wiffle Ball repertoire to survive six innings.

The Reds bullpen did the rest and showcased their trade deadline acquisition Jonathan Broxton, who easily retired the San Diego Padres hitters 1-2-3 in the eighth inning.

The Cuban Missile once again fireballed his way through the ninth to record yet another save and preserve the Reds win.

The Reds trot their ace Johnny Cueto to the mound for an afternoon affair tomorrow that Reds fans locally won't see televised through Fox Sports Ohio, which is why I'll be at the ballpark to watch Cueto try to break the Reds streak of bad starts by their starters to guarantee that the three-game lead over the Pirates is preserved for the three-game series the Reds have with the Pirates starting Friday night.

The Ohio River showdown is coming with more at stake than the Pirates and Reds have seen in two decades.