|
Cincinnati
Reds…
Reds first to
80 wins after sweeping D-backs
Latos keeps game close, teammates erupt for four late home runs
PHOENIX -- Reds fans should take a moment to appreciate what they're
seeing, because seasons like this haven't come around very often in
Cincinnati.
A 6-2 victory over the D-backs on Wednesday iced a three-game series
sweep and improved the Reds to a Major League-best 80-52. It is the
quickest to 80 wins for the club since the 1976 team won No. 80 in its
125th game. This also marked the first time since '76 that a Reds team
won 80 games before the end of August.
In 1976, the Big Red Machine won 102 games and went on to sweep the
Yankees for a second straight World Series title.
"We felt that in Spring Training that we're a special team," manager
Dusty Baker said. "It's a good year to be a special team, for
everybody. Our guys keep plugging along, winning ballgames any way we
can win them."
Last season, the Reds finished with 79 wins. There are still 30 games
remaining in this season. If it ended now, they would have home-field
advantage throughout the National League playoffs.
Things have been loose and relaxed inside the Reds' clubhouse of late,
for good reason. In the second half, almost entirely without Joey
Votto, they are 33-14, also the best in baseball. They are 10-2-2 in 14
second-half series.
"We're just having fun," said second baseman Brandon Phillips, not long
after getting a playful kiss on the cheek from teammate Todd Frazier.
"Everybody is joking around with people. Everybody is getting clutch
hits when we need them."
Even winning can be taxing, though. Playing their 34th game in 34 days
before finally getting a break with Thursday's off-day in Houston, the
Reds looked every bit of a team running on fumes for the first
two-thirds of Wednesday's game.
Arizona lefty Patrick Corbin retired seven of his first eight batters,
and 16 of 18. Through the first six innings, the Reds trailed, 2-0, and
their only hits were a third-inning single from pitcher Mat Latos and a
Zack Cozart infield single in the sixth that snapped a 0-for-20 skid.
There turned out to be reserves left in the tank that would boost the
Reds.
In the seventh, Frazier hit a one-out double to left field and was
followed by Chris Heisey sending a 3-1 fastball to left-center field
for a two-run homer. Heisey, a reserve who got the start in left field
Wednesday, hadn't hit a homer since an inside-the-parker on Aug. 3.
"The home run he gave up to me was one of the first at-bats where he
fell behind," Heisey said. "He was [ahead] 3-0 and then 3-1. I was
sitting on a fastball and I got it." Two batters later with two outs,
another backup in catcher Dioner Navarro hit a 1-1 Corbin pitch into
the left-field seats for a solo homer that gave the Reds their first
lead of the afternoon.
In the eighth inning against reliever Matt Albers, Phillips added a
massive two-run homer to straightaway center field. It was still
carrying when it hit the batters' eye.
"That's all I've got," Phillips said. "When I hit it, I said, 'Please
get up, please get up.' I didn't think it would be like that. Dang, I
did some pushups last night. Maybe the pushups really worked."
With two outs, Heisey drove a 3-2 Albers pitch to left field for
another homer, this time a solo shot. It was the fourth multihomer game
of Heisey's career.
"They're a good hitting team. That's what the Reds do," D-backs manager
Kirk Gibson said. "It's critical to continue to make good pitches on
them."
Over seven innings and a season-high 118 pitches, Latos allowed two
runs and five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts to improve to
11-4 with a 3.79 ERA.
"For the most part, I think we just have to keep a level head," Latos
said. "We know we have to continue to win ballgames. As long as we can
win series, we have a chance to go somewhere."
During a 34-pitch bottom of the first inning, Latos encountered trouble
quickly, especially after Paul Goldschmidt's two-out single to center
field put runners on the corners. As he faced Justin Upton, Latos was
called for a balk that brought Aaron Hill home for the game's first run.
"I felt really good in the 'pen today, so I think I was a little
anxious in the first inning," Latos said. "It was a little adrenaline
kick in the first inning. I kind of settled down the rest of the game."
In the fourth inning, Jake Elmore's two-out bloop double near the
left-field line was barely missed on Heisey's diving attempt. Upton
scored to give Arizona a two-run lead.
Latos, who gave up seven runs over five innings his last time out
against the Cardinals, escaped the fourth by leaving runners on first
and second before going on to retire 10 of his final 11 batters.
Read this and other articles at Cincinnati Reds
|
|
|
|
