Reds at Dodgers 5/19/2008

[redsrbetter]

AT

		CINCINNATI			LOS ANGELES
#	Pos.	Name	...	Pos.	Name
1.	3B	RYAN FREEL	...	LF	JUAN PIERRE
2.	CF	COREY PATTERSON	...	RF	ANDRE ETHIER
3.	RF	KEN GRIFFEY JR	...	C	RUSSELL MARTIN
4.	2B	BRANDON PHILLIPS	...	2B	JEFF KENT
5.	LF	ADAM DUNN	...	1B	JAMES LONEY
6.	1B	JOEY VOTTO	...	CF	MATT KEMP
7.	SS	JERRY HAIRSTON JR	...	3B	BILL DEWITT
8.	C	PAUL BAKO	...	SS	LUIS MAZA
9.	P	BRONSON ARROYO	...	P	BRAD PENNY

Lucky number 7 is here everyone! Tonight the Reds are out to prove that this hot streak is no fluke and there is no better test than on the road in the west. First and foremost, the Reds have lost 18 road series out of it's last 19. And they have been outright miserable in their annual west coast road trip.

Yet, this team has figured out a way to win 6 straight all against first place teams. Is this team for real? Do they have a chance to contend now?

Its Arroyo vs Penny. The Dodger ace is coming off two horrible starts allowing 15 runs collectively. Yet he has faired extremely well against the Reds with a 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA in his career against them.

Best hitter vs Penny: Griffey is 11 for 30 (.367 BA) with 3 HRs. Time to get him going!

Is Arroyo back to 2006 form? His strikeout numbers beg to offer that sentiment (43 K in 47.1 IP with a 43/18 K/BB ratio.). He also has pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings. The only concern here is that he may be feeling the effects of pitching off just three days rest his last time out.

Arroyo does not bode well against: Juan Pierre is 9 for 23 (.391 BA). The rest have only limited ABs against him.

[redsrbetter]

Edwin has been in a bit of a slump, hence the day off.

"I think he needs a day," Dusty Baker said. "I told him last night and he didn't fight it, so you know he needs it."

And his replacement is 7 for 17 against Penny (Freel). I am actually happy to have Hairston in there instead of Janish. He just has been very good this year at all levels. Janish has been better than advertised, but I don't think he will hit like Hairston all year. Patterson in the 2-hole? UGH. Hopefully he saves many runs with his defense tonight.

[Slyder]

A lineup I could almost live with?!?!?! Still why in the world does Baker think Patterson is worth the time that high in the lineup when he's hit like a big steaming pile of crap in every game but what 3?

[redsrbetter]

I am very excited about tonight's game. Thankfully Penny has struggled, I predict a big game from Griffey tonight.

[redsrbetter]

I am also glad to see that Dunn at least has a little protection in this one as well.

[redsrbetter]

Here comes 5 games in a row!

[redsrbetter]

Its about gametime, I just got the dogs off the grill and I am raring to go. Lets get another win Reds!

[redsrbetter]

Awesome! I get to hear Vin Scully tonight as well! I have loved this guy since I was a baby. My grandfather is a bigtime Dodger fan, so I grew up listening to him. His voice is baseball for me. That and he did a good job calling the game in the movie 'For Love of the Game.'

[redsrbetter]

Very weak crowd for the Dodgers tonight. They have been slumping bigtime

[redsrbetter]

Freel takes 4 straight balls! Easy walk as all those pitches missed badly. Here we go...

[redsrbetter]

Penny looks absolutely horrible right now. Nowhere near the zone

[redsrbetter]

Patterson nearly GIDP, but his speed beats the throw to 1B. Here is Junior. Lets do this!

[redsrbetter]

Hit and run and it is a basehit to RF for Griffey. Runners on the corners now for BP. Lets score here fellas!

[redsrbetter]

There it is! RBI basehit to LF on a full count by BP and here come Dunn

1-0 Reds

[redsrbetter]

Dunncan't catch up to the high fastball and he goes down swinging. Lets go Votto