March 14, 2007: Cincinnati Reds 2, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1
The Rays are now the proud owners of 12-game losing streak. I wasn't expecting a pitcher's duel last night, but that's what we got. With a lot of pitchers...
As you might expect from the score, there were not a lot of hits. Bubba went 0 for 3, and even Roy Hobbs was only 1 for 3, with an infield single.
Strangely, despite the tight score, the game was never really exciting. Perhaps because of that losing streak, I never really felt the Reds were in danger of losing this one.
Bubba stayed in the entire game, but only came to the plate three times. A reflection of how the Rays' pitchers were mowing 'em down, I guess.
His first at-bat was in the 2nd. One out, one on. On the 0-1 pitch, he scorched a liner to right center, but was robbed by a diving Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli dug up such a large divot making the play that the announcers thought he had lost his glove. No, it was big clod of dirt and grass that went flying.
Bubba came to the plate again in the 4th. Two outs, runner on 3B. He worked the count full, then hit a checkswing grounder to 3B. Prompting the Tampa announcers to say something like, "Wow, he doesn't run like a Bubba!" (I guess they expect someone named "Bubba" to weigh about 300 lbs., and waddle down the first base line, no doubt slowed by the pants hanging halfway off his butt.) He made it close, but didn't beat the throw.
Bubba led off the 7th. On a 1-1 count, he hit a broken-bat grounder to 1B. The flying pieces of lumber made it interesting, but once again, the throw was in time.
The Devil Rays had a lot of their prime time lineup in, and they were making the kind of defensive plays that have made them so pesky to the Yanks the last couple of years.
Bubba is now hitting .296 / .387 / .519.
He should get more playing time today. The Reds are playing two games against the Pirates: a split-squad, day-night doubleheader.
Labels: Reds
