Reds Avoid Sweep Thanks to Votto

The Reds avoided a sweep last night by beating the Blue Jays 7-5 in Toronto.

The offense busted out of the gate quickly with four runs in the top of the first. Every man who crossed the plate did so with two outs. After Willy Taveras led off the game with a double, Jerry Hairston lined out and Brandon Phillips grounded out. It looked like it would be another missed opportunity for the Reds.

Not this time.

The Cincinnati offense has a totally different feel to it now. The man coming up with a runner on and two outs was Joey Votto. He delivered with an RBI-double to left. It was the first of four hits on the night for Votto.

Jonny Gomes followed with a double of his own that scored Votto. After Ramon Hernandez walked, Jay Bruce produced the fourth two-base hit of the inning. Gomes and Hernandez scored, making it 4-0 before Johnny Cueto even took the mound.

Cueto lasted six innings and earned the victory. However, it was the second game in a row that he was unable to hold a substantial lead. He gave up five hits and five runs, all of which were earned.

A night that began so promising for Dusty Baker's club could have turned into a complete disaster. With Cueto allowing the lead to be erased, the Reds found themselves locked in a 5-5 tie heading to the seventh.

The Reds needed a lift. They needed someone to come up with a clutch hit. Did I mention that it is nice to have Mr. Votto back in the lineup? Votto clubbed his ninth home run of the year to give his team the lead. An insurance run was added in the eighth with a perfectly placed suicide squeeze bunt by Taveras.

The bullpen looked like their old selves with three shutout innings. Nick Masset, David Weathers and Francisco Cordero threw one apiece. Cordero notched his 18th save of the season.

The Reds now head to Cleveland for a weekend series against the Indians. Tonight's opening game will feature Aaron Harang (5-7, 3.66) against Jeremy Sowers (1-5, 5.95).