Game Date:        5/6/04
Leagues:          Rookie
Reds 17    Orioles 15
 

Description:

Reds' defense keys 17-15 win over Orioles
The Reds turned up the heat with their defense on Thursday and it paid off with a win over the Orioles to even the team's record at 1-1. The Orioles knew they were in for a battle right "off the bat", as the Reds retired the visitors' first two batters. T.C. scooped up a grounder to force the first out, and Joey then threw out the next batter at first from his pitcher position. The Orioles rallied to score five runs in the inning, but were denied a sixth when Shaun fielded a grounder at second and threw out the last batter at first.

The Reds came up with another strong hitting performance. Although the team did not register a single extra-base hit - after pounding six doubles in the last game - the squad hit safely in 27 of 30 at bats! Nine of ten Reds hit safely in the first, and the Reds took a 6-5 lead into the second inning.

The defense really took control in the second. After Joey and T.C. hooked up a second time on a pitch-and-catch from the pitcher to first, the Orioles rapped out two singles, a triple, and another single to score three runs. But after the next batter singled, the Reds killed the rally when the next two batters grounded out to T.C. at first. The Reds capitalized in their half of the inning, again getting nine hits. Heading into the final inning, the Reds held an 11-8 lead.

The Orioles rallied for seven runs in the third to edge ahead, 15-11, but the Reds weren't about to let this one slip away. Five straight singles by T.C., Donovan, Sam, Joey, and Kyle brought home two runs and loaded the bases. Down 15-13, Shaun grounded out to the pitcher, but Sam scored on the hit to pull the Reds to within one. (Even Shaun's out was a motivator! The Reds' smallest player had just one hit off the pitching machine coming into the game - a single in the first game against the Yankees - and was just a step away from beating the throw for a base hit.) Isaac tied the game by singling home Joey, and Josh provided the game-winning hit, a single, that scored Kyle with the winning run. Jack hit a bases-loaded single that drove home Isaac with the final run to account for the 17-15 score.

The Reds' defense recorded three outs in both the first and second innings - something they had been unable to do yet this season. And the offense rapped out 29 hits, five more than in the loss to the A's. T.C., Sam, Joey, Kyle, Isaac, Josh, Tyler, and Jack all went three-for-three at the plate. Joey, Shaun, Isaac, Josh, and Jack all drove in three runs as the Reds delivered with runners in scoring position.