Reds get a measure of revenge against struggling Giants

The Reds just completed a dominant four-game series in AT&T Park, and in so doing, completed an equally dominant season series against the defending world champion Giants.

In taking the series 3-1, the Reds scored 31 runs (11, 9, 3, 8).

This was a "first since..." in a number of ways:

1) The first time they've scored 8+ runs three times in a single series since August 2005 (a sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley).

2) Also the first time they've scored 31 runs in a series since 2005 (32 runs against Arizona, 34 runs against Tampa Bay)

3) The first time they've scored 31 runs in a road series since July 2000 at Colorado...and the last time they scored MORE in a road series was May 1999, also at Colorado...a series in which they scored 36 runs thanks mostly to a 24-run outburst fueled by Jeffrey Hammonds (3 HR) and Sean Casey (6 RBI).


The Reds also completed the season series vs. San Francisco with a 6-1 record, and a dominant 45-14 advantage in runs scored.  Plus the no-hitter by Bailey.  

I'd say it went pretty well.  Certainly not well enough to erase the painful memories of the 2012 NLDS (and apparently not well enough to make up ground in the standings either), but quite well indeed.

The best individual performers of the four-game set:

At the plate: Devin Mesoraco (8 for 16, 2 homers, 7 RBI).  Probably the best series of his young career.

Starting pitching: Bronson Arroyo (6 K, 7-hit complete-game shutout in Game 1).  A vintage Bronson performance, keeping the struggling opposing lineup guessing all night - until the final batter, at least...and we all know D-Rob took care of that for him with one of the coolest catches you'll ever see.

Relief: Sam LeCure (2 K in a spotless inning to escape a bases-loaded jam of Leake's making in Game 4).  He has inherited 12 runners this season, and none have scored - best in MLB.

Now, it's on to Los Angeles.  The Reds have actually won 6 of their last 9 in Dodger Stadium, but that immediately followed a 12-game losing streak there.  It's always been a tough place to win, but winning is exactly what they have to do with a 5-game deficit to make up in the division race.

Reds win one of the most dominating playoff games in franchise history

By the numbers...

Reds win 9-0 shutout
- only the 12th MLB playoff shutout victory by 9 runs or more
- the largest Reds playoff shutout (previous record was 7-0 in 1990 WS game 1)
- only the 55th MLB playoff team pitching game allowing 2 or fewer hits, and the 4th by the Reds
- tied for the largest Reds playoff game winning margin (with 10-1 win in 1995 NLDS game 3)
- the 7th shutout in Reds playoff history, first since 7-0 in 1990 WS game 1
- only the 4th time the Reds have scored 9+ runs in a playoff game

Bronson Arroyo sparkles like a teen vampire
- the first 7+ inning game, allowing 1 or fewer hits, by a Reds pitcher in team playoff history
- only the 6th MLB playoff starting pitching performance of 7+ innings and 1 hit or fewer, 1 walk or fewer
- only the 14th Reds playoff starting pitching game score of 70 or higher

Brandon Phillips and Co. make individual offensive history for a Reds playoff game
- DatDudeBP is now tied for 19th in Reds playoff hits (9) and RBI (5) 
- Ryan Hanigan got his first three career playoff RBI, and Drew Stubbs got his first career playoff RBI
- Ryan Hanigan was only the 17th Reds player ever with 3+ RBI in a playoff game
- Scott Rolen had his 12th career playoff RBI, but first with the Reds

The Reds are now 8-1 all-time in playoff games on the west coast.

Most importantly, they're coming home with a 2-0 lead in the NLDS.

1-run games

The MLB records for 1-run games:

Most wins: 1978 Giants (42)
Most losses: 1968 White Sox (44)
Most games played: 1971 Astros (75)

By now, if you're a Reds fan, you've probably heard that they've lost an alarming 25 one-run games already. While not on pace to challenge any records, if they did go on to lose 36 such contests they'd be the first MLB team to do so since the 2002 Cubs. The most recent to lose 40 were the 1992 Dodgers.

A side note: this year's Giants are on pace for 41 one-run wins. No team since the record in 1978 has won more than the 39 victories recorded by the 1985 Reds.

The men behind the win 7/31/11

Impressive 3 game sweep of the Giants complete. Too bad the Brewers have won 6 in a row to maintain their big division lead.

1) Johnny Cueto. The only pitcher on the team with any complete games this year got his third, and amazingly this is the first one in the win column. The previous two were 8-inning complete game losses (2-1 and 1-0 thanks to pathetic offense). Today's line: only 5 base-runners (1 by error) and 2 of them got erased by double plays. 6 strikeouts, 1 walk. And he continues to induce ground balls like never before. 11 of them today.

2) Joey Votto. Got the first RBI of the game, and then three more for good measure with his blast in the 7th. 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored as well.

3) Drew Stubbs. 4 for 5 (only one strikeout!) and set the table at the beginning (scored the first run), middle (scored the 5th run) and end (scored the 9th run) of the game.

4) Edgar Renteria. Followed Stubbs onto the paths with singles of his own a couple times, walked once, and scored all three times on base.

Honorable mention: Todd Frazier for his first career home run.

Red Non-Rivalries by decade

The teams the Reds beat up on the most each decade, including only the teams they played each year of that decade (for instance, Padres/Expos excluded in the '60s):

1900s - Boston Beaneaters/Doves
1910s - Brooklyn Dodgers
1920s through 1940s - Philadelphia Phillies
1950s - Pittsburgh Pirates
1960s - Philadelphia Phillies
1970s - Atlanta Braves
1980s - Pittsburgh Pirates
1990s - Philadelphia Phillies
2000s - Florida Marlins

So the Reds' all-time "play-toy" is the Philadelphia Phillies.

Now for the teams the Reds have played the worst against...

1900s - Chicago Cubs
1910s - New York Giants
1920s - New York Giants
1930s - St. Louis Cardinals
1940s - St. Louis Cardinals
1950s - Atlanta Braves
1960s - San Francisco Giants
1970s - Chicago Cubs
1980s - St. Louis Cardinals
1990s - Atlanta Braves
2000s - Los Angeles Dodgers

So the Reds' all-time worst enemy? A tie between the Cardinals and Giants.