5.12.2010

ANARCHY IN THE PA PART TWO: MY WAY


During the series sweep of the Pirates that was completed on Wednesday afternoon, Reds' pitching allowed only one run in all three games combined. Bronson Arroyo began the Pittsburgh affair on Monday pitching seven innings while allowing the only run of the series on five hits. Johnny "Rotten" Cueto had the most handsome outing of his career on Tuesday hurling a one-hit complete-game shutout. On Wednesday, Homer Bailey extended the pitching staff's dominance, leading the Reds to a sweep of the Bucs.

Until Wednesday, Bailey had been alienated by the other starting pitchers for the Reds. After an extremely murky start to the season for Reds' pitchers, all except Bailey have been turning the page. Bailey remained the only starter without a win, and apart from one outing (May 1st vs. STL, 6.2IP, 2ER), he had pitched lousy. Riding the wave of determination that has been recently advertised by Cincinnati, Bailey placed the adolescent season behind him and pitched wonderfully against the Pirates on Wednesday.



Notching the first complete-game shutout of his career, Homer Bailey threw only 91 pitches and allowed only four hits. Striking out six and walking none, Bailey threw 73 strikes in the Reds' 5-0 victory over the Pirates. Bailey did not allow a single batter to go to a three-ball count the entire game and only went to a two-ball count four times. Bailey and Cueto's back-to-back complete-game shutouts were the first since Jose Rijo and Tom Browning did it in 1989. Reds' manager Dusty Baker was impressed:

"That’s the most well-pitched two days that I’ve seen in a long time."

The Reds will take a day off on Thursday in preparation for a paramount three game series against the first-place St. Louis Cardinals beginning on Friday. The series will include the 2010 Gillette Civil Rights Game on Saturday. Reds legends Barry Larkin and Chuck Harmon, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, along with Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Ernie Banks and Joe Morgan will all be in attendance for the festivities May 14-15. Both teams will be rocking 1947-style throwbacks honoring the year that Jackie Robinson shattered the color barrier in Major League baseball. Here's the projected starters for the weekend:

FRI, May 14 @ 7:10pm vs. St. Louis: Aaron Harang (2-4, 6.02) vs. Jaimie Garcia (3-2, 1.18)
SAT, May 15 @ 7:10pm vs. St. Louis: Mike Leake (3-0, 3.10) vs. Adam Wainwright (5-1, 2.08)
SUN, May 16 @ 1:10pm vs. St. Louis: Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 5.36) vs. Brad Penny (3-3, 1.70)

VIEW ENTIRE ARTICLE AT WHACKREDS.COM

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