Reds hope road woes end in Milwaukee

[CincyRedsFan30]

Reds hope road woes end in Milwaukee

By Hal McCoy

Dayton Daily News

A few years back, the Cincinnati Reds were so good on the road they became known as the Big Road Machine.

So far this season, entering a three-game series that opens tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers in Miller Park, the Reds are The Big Wrecked Machine.

They've played 11 road games and lost eight.

They were swept in three in Houston, split two in St. Louis, lost two of three in Miami and lost two of three in Chicago.

What they need to do is sneak into opposing parks and paint the seats red, wear their home uniforms on the road and take their wives with them to scream at them.

Better yet, they could try some better pitching and some better hitting, especially with runners in scoring position.

The team has revised its pitching rotation for the Milwaukee series after Ramon Ortiz threw for 12 minutes on the side in Miller Park on Thursday.

Ortiz, who has made only one start due to a strained left groin, is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday and is expected to pitch that day.

Meanwhile, Brandon Claussen, coming off an excellent outing in Florida on Sunday — no runs, three hits in a 2-1 victory — pitches tonight against Gary Glover (1-1, 5.19).

Paul Wilson (1-2, 6.00) pitches Saturday against somebody to be announced because Ben Sheets is not healthy. Ortiz faces Doug Davis (2-3, 5.40) on Sunday.

Reds starters have produced only seven quality starts (six or more innings, three runs or less) in 21 games (10-11) and no starter has gone beyond seven innings.

In the just-completed three-game series in Chicago, Reds pitchers gave up 26 earned runs (9.00 earned run average) and 39 hits, but managed to win one game.

Derrek Lee destroyed the Reds in two games at Wrigley, especially Wednesday's 8-7 defeat when he had four hits, two homers and drove in six runs.

"We just have to pitch him differently," manager Dave Miley said.

He could say that about a lot of guys.

Despite Jason LaRue's .375 average with runners in scoring position, Adam Dunn's .357, Joe Randa's .313, Ryan Freel's .286 and Sean Casey's .278, as a team the Reds are hitting only .231 as a team with runners in scoring position.

They've stranded 58 runners during this six-game trip during which they are 2-4.

[Wally Mo Pena]

miley makes me want to puke with his comments like "we just have to pitch him differently." Well YEAH DAVE, when did you figure that out!? That's all you can say about that miserable situation!? Someone on this board said that miley doesn't have the winning spark, and i have to agree.

[ghettochild]

hey CRF30 and Wally, congrats on making the writing team

[CincyRedsFan30]

Thanks a lot ghetto.

[redsrbetter]

Yep congrats again fellas! LOL.

[missionhockey21]

Speaking of the writing team, check your PM's Wally.

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing Claussen tonight. Didn't he get his first win as a Red over the Brewers?

[redsrbetter]

He is 1-1 with an 8.03 ERA in 12.1 IP lifetime against the Brewers.