Nice play by Reds second baseman to get Willingham at the plate. Not a great slide by Willingham, who seemed surprised.

I agree, he could have scored with a little better slide. Span is excellent at hitting the corners on slides.

2nd and 3rd, nobody out with Morneau and Plouffe due up, very disappointing to only come away with 1 run.

I love it too.

 

Did anybody else cringe, just a bit, when Mauer had to make a play at the plate? Nice clean play, though, both ways.

Personally I would love to see if he could handle getting run over. I don't want him to get Posey'd but if it was a Lonnie Smith/Brian Harper collision I'd be all for it.

Mauer looked pretty clumsy on that play at the plate, again. Sticks his left leg out instead of blocking the plate. He had like 5 seconds to set up there too.

 

Tough luck for the Twins on the Plouffe AB. Hit it hard but perfect bounce and nice play by Phillips.

Diamond is throwing strikes and trusting his stuff. A complete game seems possible here.

Nobody covers second. Uffda.

Ugh! With Dozier it seems to be 1.25 steps forward, 1 step back.

Good lord.

Young player. Like I said with Plouffe when he was making mistakes at SS, the game is much faster and a single mental lapse is magnified.

Ugh! With Dozier it seems to be 1.25 steps forward, 1 step back.

But Diamond makes it moot by getting the final out. If Diamond keeps pitching like this, the one run lead may hold up.

That isn't a small lapse, that is crap you learn in little league. Gave away a sure out as the slow catcher would have been out by a mile.

It's nice to see Diamond pitching well again after a a rough couple of starts.

Sure would be nice to get a couple more runs and give Diamond/pen a little breathing room.

That isn't a small lapse, that is crap you learn in little league. Gave away a sure out as the slow catcher would have been out by a mile.

The Reds' announcers attributed the lapse to a lack of familiarity with National League baserunning strategy.

Really good corner OF defense in the sixth. Mastro kept Bruce at first on his liner toward the corner and then J-Will played the next ball very well setting up the relay that got Bruce by plenty.

C'mon Scotty! Help your own cause. Crank one outta here! (Hey, a guy can dream).

Are we absolutely sure it was Dozier who was supposed to cover 2nd there?

Sure would be nice to get a couple more runs and give Diamond/pen a little breathing room.

Diamond can help himself with a home run here.

I'm guessing that's the last we see a pitcher bat today.

The Reds' announcers attributed the lapse to a lack of familiarity with National League baserunning strategy.

Apparently they haven't heard stolen bases have been legal in the AL for a couple years now.

Are we absolutely sure it was Dozier who was supposed to cover 2nd there?

We're guessing, but the fact that he eventually headed that way once he saw the runner going seems to indicate he thought it was his responsibility.

I'm guessing that's the last we see a pitcher bat today.

And for the rest of this season -- final inter-league game of this year.

Are we absolutely sure it was Dozier who was supposed to cover 2nd there?

Yes, I imagine the Twins were playing against the bunt which means the SS needs to cover 2nd in case of a steal.

Prediction: Diamond goes until he allows a baserunner in the eighth.

Hell of an attempt by Dozier.

And for the rest of this season -- final inter-league game of this year.

What about the world series

Diamond didn't do anything wrong there. Votto is just that kind of hitter. There are only a few guys who could take that pitch and go opposite field homerun with it.

 

In other words, wow.

Votto: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Prediction: Diamond goes until he allows a baserunner in the eighth.

In hindsight, I wish that this prediction had been correct.

Votto: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Fool me three times.... and you can't get fooled again.