GOING, GOING, GOMES!

Jonny Gomes had a career high six RBI in the Reds 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. Gomes' 47 RBI currently leads the National League. Gomes hit a pair of three-run homers; one in the first inning, and one in the third. He was then hit by pitches during his next two at-bats by Kaneoka Texeira. During the seventh inning, Paul Janish and Chris Heisey were also hit by pitches from Dusty Hughes, but no intention was suspected:

“I don’t think they were intentional,” Dusty Baker said. “At least I hope they weren’t.”

FROM OMGREDS:
THANKFULLY Jeff Brantley pointed it out during the FSN broadcast on several occasions throughout the evening. Including the following dialogue with Thom Brennaman after Heisey got hit in the 7th by Hughes.
Jeff: Alright, now it’s getting old.

Thom: Well, you don’t think that one had any intent to it, do you?

Jeff: I don’t care if it had any intent at all. You brushed my guy once, then you hit him. He had two home runs. And now you’ve hit a third guy. Well, that bothers me.
Brantley later added, “If you’re in that locker room and you want to be Jonny’s (Gomes’) friend, I’ll tell you what to do.”

So obviously Brantley saw some or all of the HBP action as harshit. I’m certain that some of the Reds did as well but there was no retaliation Saturday and I’ll be curious to see whether there appears to be any Sunday, when the Reds face the Royals for the final time this season (and if we manage to reach the World Series, something tells me this isn’t the team we’re going to face). The question is … as long as Texeira doesn’t get an at-bat Sunday (he got an at-bat Saturday but unfortunately it was before he hit Gomes for the second time) … who is the top candidate for a fastball between the shoulder blades on Sunday? I’d guess maybe David DeJesus or Billy Butler. Don’t wish them any harm, just looked at their lineup for star players. And I don’t think I’d mess with Kendall or Jose Guillen. Because wouldn’t you say something kind of ought to happen?

By the way, what about the tremendous restraint Gomes showed by not charging Texeira when he plunked him the second time! Because I’d guess he thought about it. I wanted him to … did you? Then again, do we want to be without the services of the league-leader in RBIs for the better part of a week?

Scott Rolen went 2-4 with an RBI in front of 32,240 Reds fans on his bobble head night and Brandon Phillips (3-4, HR, 3R) extended his hitting steak to sixteen games.

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman went five innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine, during his start for Louisville on Saturday. The Bats were trailing Pawtucket 1-0 when the game was delayed during the sixth.

Edinson Volquez pitched three scoreless innings for single-A Lynchburg on Saturday. With 44 pitches, Volquez allowed hits to the first two Potomac batters then retired the following nine. Volquez struck out three and walked none during his first game action since June 1, 2009.

Sam Lecure (1-2, 3.12) will face Zack Greinke (1-8, 4.05) and the Royals at 1:10pm on Sunday.

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