Reds swept in NLDS
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds gave away white rally towels to fans in attendance before the game Sunday night's National League Division Series Game 3 at Great American Ball Park.
By the end of nine innings, the Reds were forced to throw in their own white towel on the 2010 season, as the Phillies defeated the Reds, 2-0 to sweep the NLDS in three games.
It was season over for the Reds.
In this NLDS, the NL Central Division champion Reds were no-hit in Game 1 and had four errors in Game 2, losing a four-run lead.
Cincinnati had an opportunity in the ninth inning Sunday to break through their postseason drought with Brandon Phillips starting the ninth with a base hit. A 4-6-3 double play hit into by Joey Votto ended that chance. A strikeout by Scott Rolen sealed the deal for the end of the season.
This was not the postseason the Reds expected.
The Phillies are leaving Cincinnati to play in the National League Championship Series awaiting the winner of the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves, which the Giants lead 2-1.
The Reds are staying home, looking to build on their first winning season in 10 years. Their first playoff appearance in 15 years.
Philadelphia scored their runs early, then it was all Cole Hamels after that.
Hamels pitched a complete game for the win. In the nine innings on the hill, he had nine strikeouts, giving up five hits, on 119 pitches. The Phillies are now 4-0 when Hamels pitches on the road for them in the postseason.
Hamels (1-0), who made his MLB debut at GABP in 2006, is now 7-0 lifetime against Cincinnati, dropping he ERA to 0.87 against the Reds.
"When you throw a shutout like he did, that's big," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "How many did he give up, three or four? OK. Five, yeah, like that's that's absolutely pitching a good game. He was sharp and I mean, he was good the whole nine innings."
Besides the pitching of Philadelphia, the offense did enough for the win.
Chase Utley didn't let the chorus of boos from the largest crowd in the history of GABP (44,599) get to him, in fact, it didn't bother him at all, proving that with one swing of the bat in the fifth inning.
The one swing dashed the hopes of the Reds, a solo home run that traveled 378 feet to put the defending National League champions ahead by two runs. The home run was reviewed and upheld with instant replay by the umpires when Reds centerfielder Drew Stubbs and fans went after the ball at the same time.
"He (Utley) likes to hit in this yard. He swings the bat good and he ... but Chase is what I call an everyday player, every single day he brings it," Manuel said. "Like I said the other day, he makes mistakes in the field sometimes and he'll keep right on. And he'll find it and that's what makes him a great player."
Orlando Cabrera, who was a game-time decision due to an injury, overthrew the ball high and wide-right to first, forcing Joey Votto off the base, allowing Placido Polanco to score from third with two outs for the game's first run, in the first inning.
The Reds had just one extra base hits against Hamels, not coming until the seventh inning by Ramon Hernandez.
Cincinnati struggled against all three Phillies pitchers in Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Hamels in the NLDS.
"You know, pitching is the key, and they threw three excellent pitchers against us. We pitched well today, but Hamels pitched better," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "You know, it's a tough pill to swallow when you work so hard from Spring Training to get to this point. And you know you achieve one goal and you're trying to achieve another goal.
"But it is, what it is. And they're a very good club. You know, they're going to be tough to beat, especially when they're throwing that pitching at you like that."
The Reds had 11 hits in the three-game NLDS. The defense of the Reds wasn't much better, committing seven errors in three games.
"I don't know. I can't explain it. You know, if I could explain it, it wouldn't happen, and it wouldn't happen again," Baker said. "I guess it was just baseball. That's all I can say."
Johnny Cueto (0-1) was charged with the loss. He went five innings, giving up five hits two runs (one earned) with one walk and two strikeouts on 83 pitches.
Cueto dazzled in the top of the third. Getting two strikes on all four batters he faced in the inning. All the Phillies came up with as a slow roller base hit by Ryan Howard. Howard finished the night 2 for 4.
Cueto recorded outs with strikeouts of the swinging variety to Utley and Werth. Cueto ended the inning with a 94 MPH fastball past Werth.
Hamels countered with a quicker half inning. It took just five pitches for the 2008 World Series MVP to send the Reds back to the dugout looking for their gloves.
Hamels held the Reds in check through the first four innings, allowing just three base hits from the combination of Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen. The Reds finished the game with five.
"You know, I think I was able to really establish my fastball early. I was able to hit my spots away, and in," Hamels said at the postgame press conference. "And when you're feeling good and you're able to dial it up a notch, it's going to make it a little bit tougher, especially for the success."
After Cueto was pinch hit for in the fifth, Homer Bailey jogged out of the dugout, but his pitches he came out throwing were nothing short of blazing.
He began the inning with a called-third 97 MPH strikeout of Werth. That was followed by a base hit from Jimmy Rollins and another strikeout, this one to a swinging Raul Ibanez.
What should have been the third out of the inning, wasn't, as Rolen slipped up and lost the baseball on a routine play, putting Carlos Ruiz (2 for 4) on first base. Bailey forced a fly ball by Hamels to the glove of Bruce to end the inning.
Bailey finished with two innings pitched, allowing two hits, with two strikeouts.
Bill Bray had one job in Game 3 of the NLDS and he earned his postseason roster spot by striking out Howard in eighth, the only batter he faced.
Nick Masset entered the game in the eighth with one out and retired both Werth and Rollins with a strikeout and a fly out to centerfield.
The final relief pitcher for the Reds was Aroldis Chapman, who allowed one hit in the ninth inning. Chapman's lone hit allowed (a double to right field by Ruiz) was said to have traveled 105 MPH.
Though the Reds were swept in the first round, they did accomplish a 91-win season, breaking a drought of 10 straight losing seasons.
GAME NOTES: Joe Morgan tosses out first pitch … Each fan received a white rally towel before the game … This is just the second time the Reds and Phillies have faced each other in the postseason … Rolen's single in the fourth inning snapped an 0-for-14 skid (0-for-8 in the postseason) … This is the fourth time the Reds have been swept in the postseason ('39 World Series, '79 NLCS, '95 NLCS, '10 NLDS) … The Phillies are 10-2 all-time in clinching games, winning their last six … Before his single in the first inning, Placido Polanco was 0-for-22 in his last six postseason games … Ruiz has a 23-game postseason hitting streak … Utley's home run in the fifth was his 10th in the postseason, placing him first on the Phillies all-time list … This was the first ever postseason series sweep for the Phillies.
BOX SCORE
PHI 100 010 000 — 2 8 1
CIN 000 000 000 — 0 5 2
WP - Cole Hamels (1-0)
LP - Johnny Cueto (0-1)
LOB: Phillies 8, Reds 4
PITCHING
PHILLIES
C.Hamels 9IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 9K (119 pitches, 82 strikes)
REDS
J.Cueto 5IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR (83 pitches, 50 strikes)
H.Bailey 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K,
B.Bray .1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
N.Masset .2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
A.Chapman 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K
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By the end of nine innings, the Reds were forced to throw in their own white towel on the 2010 season, as the Phillies defeated the Reds, 2-0 to sweep the NLDS in three games.
It was season over for the Reds.
In this NLDS, the NL Central Division champion Reds were no-hit in Game 1 and had four errors in Game 2, losing a four-run lead.
Cincinnati had an opportunity in the ninth inning Sunday to break through their postseason drought with Brandon Phillips starting the ninth with a base hit. A 4-6-3 double play hit into by Joey Votto ended that chance. A strikeout by Scott Rolen sealed the deal for the end of the season.
This was not the postseason the Reds expected.
The Phillies are leaving Cincinnati to play in the National League Championship Series awaiting the winner of the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves, which the Giants lead 2-1.
The Reds are staying home, looking to build on their first winning season in 10 years. Their first playoff appearance in 15 years.
Philadelphia scored their runs early, then it was all Cole Hamels after that.
Hamels pitched a complete game for the win. In the nine innings on the hill, he had nine strikeouts, giving up five hits, on 119 pitches. The Phillies are now 4-0 when Hamels pitches on the road for them in the postseason.
Hamels (1-0), who made his MLB debut at GABP in 2006, is now 7-0 lifetime against Cincinnati, dropping he ERA to 0.87 against the Reds.
"When you throw a shutout like he did, that's big," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "How many did he give up, three or four? OK. Five, yeah, like that's that's absolutely pitching a good game. He was sharp and I mean, he was good the whole nine innings."
Besides the pitching of Philadelphia, the offense did enough for the win.
Chase Utley didn't let the chorus of boos from the largest crowd in the history of GABP (44,599) get to him, in fact, it didn't bother him at all, proving that with one swing of the bat in the fifth inning.
The one swing dashed the hopes of the Reds, a solo home run that traveled 378 feet to put the defending National League champions ahead by two runs. The home run was reviewed and upheld with instant replay by the umpires when Reds centerfielder Drew Stubbs and fans went after the ball at the same time.
"He (Utley) likes to hit in this yard. He swings the bat good and he ... but Chase is what I call an everyday player, every single day he brings it," Manuel said. "Like I said the other day, he makes mistakes in the field sometimes and he'll keep right on. And he'll find it and that's what makes him a great player."
Orlando Cabrera, who was a game-time decision due to an injury, overthrew the ball high and wide-right to first, forcing Joey Votto off the base, allowing Placido Polanco to score from third with two outs for the game's first run, in the first inning.
The Reds had just one extra base hits against Hamels, not coming until the seventh inning by Ramon Hernandez.
Cincinnati struggled against all three Phillies pitchers in Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Hamels in the NLDS.
"You know, pitching is the key, and they threw three excellent pitchers against us. We pitched well today, but Hamels pitched better," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "You know, it's a tough pill to swallow when you work so hard from Spring Training to get to this point. And you know you achieve one goal and you're trying to achieve another goal.
"But it is, what it is. And they're a very good club. You know, they're going to be tough to beat, especially when they're throwing that pitching at you like that."
The Reds had 11 hits in the three-game NLDS. The defense of the Reds wasn't much better, committing seven errors in three games.
"I don't know. I can't explain it. You know, if I could explain it, it wouldn't happen, and it wouldn't happen again," Baker said. "I guess it was just baseball. That's all I can say."
Johnny Cueto (0-1) was charged with the loss. He went five innings, giving up five hits two runs (one earned) with one walk and two strikeouts on 83 pitches.
Cueto dazzled in the top of the third. Getting two strikes on all four batters he faced in the inning. All the Phillies came up with as a slow roller base hit by Ryan Howard. Howard finished the night 2 for 4.
Cueto recorded outs with strikeouts of the swinging variety to Utley and Werth. Cueto ended the inning with a 94 MPH fastball past Werth.
Hamels countered with a quicker half inning. It took just five pitches for the 2008 World Series MVP to send the Reds back to the dugout looking for their gloves.
Hamels held the Reds in check through the first four innings, allowing just three base hits from the combination of Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen. The Reds finished the game with five.
"You know, I think I was able to really establish my fastball early. I was able to hit my spots away, and in," Hamels said at the postgame press conference. "And when you're feeling good and you're able to dial it up a notch, it's going to make it a little bit tougher, especially for the success."
After Cueto was pinch hit for in the fifth, Homer Bailey jogged out of the dugout, but his pitches he came out throwing were nothing short of blazing.
He began the inning with a called-third 97 MPH strikeout of Werth. That was followed by a base hit from Jimmy Rollins and another strikeout, this one to a swinging Raul Ibanez.
What should have been the third out of the inning, wasn't, as Rolen slipped up and lost the baseball on a routine play, putting Carlos Ruiz (2 for 4) on first base. Bailey forced a fly ball by Hamels to the glove of Bruce to end the inning.
Bailey finished with two innings pitched, allowing two hits, with two strikeouts.
Bill Bray had one job in Game 3 of the NLDS and he earned his postseason roster spot by striking out Howard in eighth, the only batter he faced.
Nick Masset entered the game in the eighth with one out and retired both Werth and Rollins with a strikeout and a fly out to centerfield.
The final relief pitcher for the Reds was Aroldis Chapman, who allowed one hit in the ninth inning. Chapman's lone hit allowed (a double to right field by Ruiz) was said to have traveled 105 MPH.
Though the Reds were swept in the first round, they did accomplish a 91-win season, breaking a drought of 10 straight losing seasons.
GAME NOTES: Joe Morgan tosses out first pitch … Each fan received a white rally towel before the game … This is just the second time the Reds and Phillies have faced each other in the postseason … Rolen's single in the fourth inning snapped an 0-for-14 skid (0-for-8 in the postseason) … This is the fourth time the Reds have been swept in the postseason ('39 World Series, '79 NLCS, '95 NLCS, '10 NLDS) … The Phillies are 10-2 all-time in clinching games, winning their last six … Before his single in the first inning, Placido Polanco was 0-for-22 in his last six postseason games … Ruiz has a 23-game postseason hitting streak … Utley's home run in the fifth was his 10th in the postseason, placing him first on the Phillies all-time list … This was the first ever postseason series sweep for the Phillies.
BOX SCORE
PHI 100 010 000 — 2 8 1
CIN 000 000 000 — 0 5 2
WP - Cole Hamels (1-0)
LP - Johnny Cueto (0-1)
LOB: Phillies 8, Reds 4
PITCHING
PHILLIES
C.Hamels 9IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 9K (119 pitches, 82 strikes)
REDS
J.Cueto 5IP, 5H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR (83 pitches, 50 strikes)
H.Bailey 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K,
B.Bray .1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
N.Masset .2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
A.Chapman 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K
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