Phillies 9, Reds 6: No Split!

Jay Bruce entered the game on Thursday with a .209 batting average.  By the way, he didn't actually enter the game until the eighth inning.  Dusty Baker met with the young right-fielder before the game yesterday and let him know he would have a couple of days to "clear his head".

Even with his batting average steadily declining, Bruce still leads the Reds with 18 home runs.  He has been outstanding in the field, tied for the Major League lead with 10 assists.  That obviously does not include countless baserunners that have decided not to test his arm on a ball hit to right field.

One man that is closing in on Bruce's home run total is Brandon Phillips, who hit is 14th of the year last night.  Edwin Encarnacion also went deep for the second time this season. 

It would not be enough because the Phillies beat Micah Owings, as Marty Brennaman said, "like a blue-eyed step-child."  Owings gave up six hits and seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Defense wasn't exactly a strong point last night either.  In the bottom of the third, Chase Utley hit one to the wall in center that kicked away from Willy Taveras.  Chris Dickerson was nowhere to be found.  It resulted in an inside-the-park home run.

"Somebody was spectating and not backing up," Baker said.

There were more defensive miscues in the fifth.  Paul Bako was at the plate with the bases loaded, one out, and a run already in.  He grounded to first baseman Joey Votto, who threw to second for the force out.  Reliever Josh Roenicke was late covering first base while receiving the return throw from Paul Janish.  One run scored, Bako was safe, and the Phillies were still batting.

Daniel Ray Herrera came in to face Jimmy Rollins, who singled in a run.  Shane Victorino walked to load the bases again.  With Utley at the plate, Herrera was charged with a wild pitch that allowed Bako to score. 

The ball was not even in the dirt.  It glanced off the glove of Ramon Hernandez.  I have noticed several times now that Hernandez has a tendency to reach for pitches rather than sliding out and blocking the ball.  Inexcusable.

Lost in the midst of this miserable night was Joey Votto extending his hitting streak to 12 games and Robert Manuel making his Major League debut.  Manuel pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Reds and Mets will play a three-game series at Citi Field starting tonight.  It will be Bronson Arroyo (8-8, 5.85) against Fernando Nieve (3-2, 2.73).