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Cincinnati
Reds first baseman, Joey Votto, reacts after striking out in
the ninth inning at Chicago Wednesday.
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Cincinnati Reds...
Reds work
overtime, trim magic number to three
CHICAGO -- As the Reds try to prepare themselves for the postseason,
they were given two optimistic signs on Wednesday.
In a 6-5 victory over the Cubs in 11 innings, Joey Votto's run
production drought ended and Drew Stubbs emerged from his lengthy funk
to get three hits, including the game-winning RBI single in the top of
the 11th.
"Joey's been swinging the bat pretty well," said acting manager Chris
Speier, who filled in while Dusty Baker was hospitalized with an
irregular heartbeat. "It's just a matter of time getting men in scoring
position for him. But the big thing was I was really happy for Drew.
He's been having a tough time getting hits. To come up that big with
the RBI game-winner, that was a great confidence boost for him."
The Reds' magic number to clinch the National League Central dropped to
three, but no more after the Cardinals won their game vs. the Astros.
Their magic number to clinch a Wild Card berth moved to one after the
Dodgers split a doubleheader against the Nationals, and their 90-59
record moves them a half-game behind the Nats (90-58) for the NL's best
record.
"We know it's going to come, but we're not jumping the gun or
anything," said Stubbs, who was 3-for-5 with three runs scored. "We'll
continue to play the way we have all year and let things take care of
themselves."
It was 5-5 with two outs in the top of the 11th, after the Cubs
overcame a 5-1 deficit, when Brandon Phillips hit a popup to shallow
right field, where David DeJesus overran the ball as it kissed off of
his glove for a two-base error. Stubbs followed with his RBI single to
left field, and Phillips scored standing up ahead of a wild throw to
the plate.
Stubbs, who also walked and stole a base in the game, is batting just
.218 in what's been a trying season at the plate. He entered the night
in a 1-for-19 stretch, which included an 0-for-16 funk that was snapped
Tuesday.
"I knew it would come sooner or later," Stubbs said. "It feels good to
finally have a multihit game and contribute to a win."
Votto was responsible for three early runs as he hit an RBI double into
the swirling wind in left field that scored Stubbs in the top of the
first inning. It was Votto's 40th double of the season, which matched
his career high.
"You're a little shocked there weren't a few more home runs the way
that wind was blowing," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.
With one out in the third, Cincinnati notched five straight singles
against Cubs starter Chris Rusin. Votto's single into left field scored
starter Mike Leake and Phillips. Ryan Ludwick followed with an RBI
single to left field, scoring Stubbs, before exiting as a precaution
with groin tightness.
Votto, who was injured with torn cartilage in his left knee from July
16-Sept. 3, had gone 11 games without an RBI since returning to the
lineup. His last RBI was on July 15, but he has reached safely in 28 of
his 55 plate appearances since coming back.
Leake started off strong but finished with four runs and six hits
allowed over six innings, with two walks and one strikeout. He retired
his first 11 batters but was burned by frequent two-out rallies. The
big trouble came in the bottom of the sixth, when Leake gave up four
straight two-out hits that included Alfonso Soriano's two-run homer to
left field, his 30th of the season.
The tying run scored in the eighth in a rare poor night for Reds rookie
reliever J.J. Hoover, who gave up three walks and a hit, including
Welington Castillo's bases-loaded walk on four pitches. It snapped the
Reds' bullpen scoreless streak at 23 2/3 innings.
But the bullpen came through in the end as Sam LeCure worked 1 1/3
scoreless innings and winning pitcher Logan Ondrusek escaped in the
bottom of the 10th after having runners on second and third with one
out and the bases loaded with two outs. Jonathan Broxton pitched a
1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save with the Reds.
Baker departed for the hospital only a few hours before first pitch,
which gave the Reds' bench coach an opportunity to manage in a big game.
Read this and other articles at Cincinnati Reds
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