Janish: 'This is tough to beat'
Paul Janish didn’t know who got him -- Kent Mercker and Jeremy Affeldt
argued whether it was Ryan Freel or Paul Bako -- but no matter who
bloodied Janish’s nose, it was certainly worth it.
In his second career big league at-bat, Janish singled pinch runner
Johnny Cueto home and gave the Reds a 7-6 victory over the Florida
Marlins in 10 innings.
"I got crushed, someone got me pretty good in the nose," Janish said.
"I actually had a bloody nose after it. I'd do it all again tomorrow if
I could."
Janish got the call to the big leagues about 26 hours earlier when
Louisville manager Rick Sweet pulled him for a pinch hitter in the
eighth inning of the Bats' game and announced to the entire dugout that
he was going to the big leagues because the reds lost starting
shortstop Jeff Keppinger with a broken kneecap.
Janish didn't start the game on Wednesday, instead he went in as a
defensive replacement in the eighth inning with the Reds leading 6-0.
Starting shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. -- who was 3-for-4 with an RBI,
two runs and a triple in the place of Keppinger -- went to leftfield,
replacing Adam Dunn.
The first two Marlins in the eighth, Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida, grounded out to Janish.
"I was just hoping I'd get in the game tonight and get the nerves out
of the way. That's what happened, I was fortunate to get a couple of
ground balls," Janish said. "When I went into the game we had a pretty
comfortable lead and I was pretty excited to get in the game, and I
wanted to get one just to get it out of the way. I caught it and threw
it and got the guy out."
In the bottom of the inning, he flew out to left in his first big
league at-bat. After heading back to the dugout, he received a standing
ovation from Reds fans behind the dugout.
Janish would be cheered even louder about an hour later.
It looked as if Janish would have to wait for another day to get his
first Major League hit. Mike Lincoln worked a perfect eighth with help
from Janish, before coming back out for the ninth inning.
The inning started with a single by former Red Jorge Cantu before
Lincoln gave up a single and a double for the Marlins' first run of the
night. Lincoln then hit Wes Helms to load the bases.
After picking up saves in the first two games of the series, Reds closer Francisco Cordero came in to try to get another.
The first batter he faced, catcher Matt Traenor singled in two runs to
make it 6-3. Two batters later, Cody Ross hit a three-run home run to
tie the game and give Cordero his first blown save as a Red. The Reds
were the last team in baseball without a blown save, partially because
they hadn't had many save opportunities.
Cordero blew Bronson Arroyo's shot at his third victory of the season,
after Arroyo threw seven shutout innings on just three days rest.
"I felt great. Three days rest, man, I feel better all the time," said
Arroyo, who has now started four times on three days rest and is 2-0
with a 2.28 ERA. "Command's there, you feel strong, you haven't had
that much time off, and you don't feel like you've been off the mound.
I felt good. I was obviously happy with seven zeroes."
Lincoln hadn't appeared in a game since Saturday and Reds manager Dusty
Baker was hoping to avoid using Cordero or David Weathers. Weathers had
pitched in the Reds three previous games, so Baker kept Lincoln in the
game.
"We got some good games out of guys tonight. Everything was going as
scripted until the ninth. It goes to show you that game's not over
until last out," Baker said. "As Yogi (Berra) said, 'it ain’t over
until it's over.' And he ain't lying. I gotta give credit to those guys
over there, they don't quit. They've got some guys who can hit and they
came back and back."
Jared Burton worked a perfect 10th to get the win.
Marlins reliever Renyel Pinto retired the Reds in the ninth inning and
then struck out Joey Votto and Edwin Encarnacion to start the 10th. But
Pinto then walked pinch hitter David Ross and Paul Bako on eight
straight pitches to bring up Janish.
Baker put Cueto in to pinch run for Ross. Baker was going to put
Edinson Volquez in, but Encaracion told him Cueto is faster, so Baker
sent him out to second and told him to just not get picked off. ("I'm
faster than Cueto," Ross said with mock seriousness after the game. "Me
and Cueto on the right field line tomorrow. We're going to race.")
With two strikes, Janish hit the ball into right field, over the head of Helms at first.
"I was doing whatever I could to get the bat on the ball and a lot of
times that's the best approach," Janish said. "As soon as it got past
the first baseman, there was nobody else there to catch it."
That's when Janish was ambushed by his teammates, pounding him on the
helmet, hitting him in the ribs and "a jab to the nose, apparently,"
Janish said.
Janish said he didn’t even feel it, though, he just noticed he was bleeding and had blood on his pants.
"It's hard to explain," Janish said of the feeling of winning the game
for his team in his debut. "I'd like to say I hope it gets better from
here, but this is tough to beat."
Reds 7, Marlins 6
WP: Jared Burton (2-1)
LP: Renyel Pinto (1-2)
HR: Cin: Adam Dunn (7). Fla: Cody Ross (4)
The hero: Could it get any better for Paul Janish? Not only did Janish make his big league debut, he also got the game-winning hit -- his first hit in the majors -- in the 10th inning.
The goat: Mike Lincoln loaded the bases for Francisco Cordero, but Bon Castellini isn't giving Mike Lincoln $46 million.
The play: With a 6-run lead, it looked benign at the time, but former Red Jorge Cantu led off the top of the ninth with a ball off pitcher Mike Lincoln. Second baseman Brandon Phillips changed direction and was able to pick up the ball, but couldn't get a throw off to first for what have been an incredible play. That's started the six-run ninth for the Marlins.
The stat: Arroyo is now 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA in four career starts on short rest.
The lesson: Six-run leads should be safe. But when you're playing team with the best slugging percentage in the National League and the second-best record, it isn't. Especially when you're in last place in the worst division in baseball.
Dusty said: "We're starting to get some breaks. ... You need some breaks. We weren't getting any before and hopefully we have a lot more to come."
Next: The Reds go for the sweep against the Marlins with Matt Belisle (1-3, 7.45 ERA) against lefty Andrew Miller (3-2, 6.52).
Redlegs v. Teallegs 5.14
Top 1: The clock was up instead of the pitch count and radar gun for Ross, so I didn't see where Bronson's fastball was. Nice play by Hairston as Hermida's ball goes off Arroyo's glove, and Hiarston picked it up and made the play for the second out. The other thing you like to see with Arroyo is getting ahead of hitters, throwing first-ptich strikes. I didn't see anything above 86, but a pretty easy inning nonetheless. Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
Bottom 1: Maybe it's just the Reds shortstop position. Hairston doubles. I still said Jay Bruce shoulda been called up and put No. 3 in the lineup playing shortstop! One thing Hairston can do that Keppinger doesn't consistently is steal bases. Not even a throw from Mr. Misty May on Hairston's steal of third. Walk for BP brings up Votto in an RBI situation. Can I tell you how much I hate the "Everybody clap your hands" song? Seriously. Ugh. That started at Shea, right? Has anything good ever started at Shea Stadium? Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
Top 2: In the booth with Marty. Check you after this half-inning.
So, what does $1,500 worth of pennies look like?
This:
* Bottom 2: Heard someone in the crowd heckling Arroyo with a "JTM" chant. He really should come up to that song once. I think he'd be booed beyond belief. Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
* Top 3: Man, did Joey Votto ever go a long, long way to try to get that foul pop up by Ross. He was over by the back end of the tarp. Not many first basemen make it there. Then Ross walks. Ruh roh. Or not. Fly out, 6-3 DP. 44 pitches for Arroyo. Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
* Bottom 3: Our second "Everybody Clap Your Hands" of the night. Ugh. C'mon Dave. I guess maybe this is punishment for getting Rilo Kiley before the game. Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
* Mr. Red's Race: It's Mr. Redlegs win, Rosie Red place, Mr. Red show. Why does Mr. Red wear the old uniform?
* Top 4: Nice gesture by the Reds -- between innings, they showed Tony Perez, the Hall of Famer and former Red is the Marlins Special Assistant to the President and on this trip. There was a shot of him on the scoreboard in a box and they played Happy Birthday. Happy 66th Doggie. JAYYYY-TEEEE-EMMMMMM. A walk to Uggla, but nothing else. Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
* Bottom 4: Wow, the Aflac trivia question -- what five players have the most career RBI that never led their league? Willie Mays (wow!), Rafael Palmeiro (doesn't surprise me), Frank Thomas (kinda does), Cal Ripken Jr. (doesn't surprise me) and Tony Perez (for some reason doesn't surprise me). Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
* Top 5: Yeah.. You don't see that every day. So, after Mr. Misty May singles, Nolasco lays down a sac bunt. Joey Votto's throw to second is off target for the first error. Then an E8 as Patterson missed the ball, Mr. May scooted around third and was thrown out at home from Patterson. Nolasco went to second on the throw home. Then two Ks. Redlegs 0, Teallegs 0
* Bottom 5: Change to the official score, no E3. They're basically saying the runner would have been safe at second with a good throw. I don't agree, but it's close enough. I think a good throw gets him. But, to quote my favorite line from my favorite movie (or one of 'em), 'who gives a ****, it's gone.' Two-out infield hit by Patterson and hten steals second. Triple for Hairston, juuuust past Hermida in right. Intentional walk to Griffey. I know everyone else yells about Griffey and says he's done. Other teams don't seem to think so. Seriously, how slow is this for a 1-0 game? Why hold Griffey on here? There's a huge hole on the right side of the field. And Nolasco goes to the outside on his first pitch. Of course, BP usually swings out of his shoes on his first swing, so maybe that's why they're giving him the other way. And he goes the other way to score Hairston. Nice piece of hitting there. Nolasco is done. Kensing gets Votto looking, but the Reds lead. Redlegs 2, Teallegs 0
* Top 6: Didn't get to it last night in the drinking game, but if the umpire makes the right call and idiots boo, drink. Ramirez doubles to left-center. It's the first extra base hit of the night for the Fish. Some people thought Patterson's throw to second got him. It didn't. Patterson did get him at third as he tried to tag up. The ol' 8-5 DP. This time the umpire got wrong, it looked like he got the foot in there. The ball beat him, that's for sure. And Uggla follows with a double. 96 pitches for Bronson. Redlegs 2, Teallegs 0
* Bottom 6: Speaking of Major League -- that one was "too high" and "too hard" -- Holy crap, Dunn hit it a mile high. They call it 364 feet, but it was higher. That's 245, putting him in fifth alone on the Reds all-time list ahead of George Foster. Only fitting, my friend Josh was wearing his George Foster jersey today. Bako singles and it looks like Arroyo's going to go out for hte seventh. I thought they may pull him with 96 pitches and on short rest. Redlegs 2 + 1 'useless run', Teallegs 0
* Top 7: Wow, goes to show what I know, Bronson strikes out the side. 111 pitches. JAYYYYY-TEEE-EMMMMM! Redlegs 3, Teallegs 0
* Bottom 7: Justin Miller in for the Marlins. Nice night for Hairston. Another hit. He's 3-for-4 with an RBI. RBI double for Griffey. Basehit and E5 for Phillips, No RBI. Really, really nice baserunning on EE's groundout. Great baserunning. The Marlins are just terrible defensively. That's why they may be playing well now, but their defense and starting pitching aren't going to last and make them a serious contender. Their bats, though, they can hit. Redlegs 6, Teallegs 0
Top 8: Mike Lincoln in for the Reds. Janish to short, Hairston to left and Lincoln in Dunn's spot. Janish will bat second in the bottom of the 8th. Just like that, the first ball in play for Janish as a big leaguer is right to him. A groundout by Ross. The second is also to him and a nice play to his right. Redlegs 6, Teallegs 0
Bottom 8: Why Dave Storm played 'Mother' for Janish, I don't know. But I will say, I do love that song. Big ovation for him after flying out to deep left. He shook his head right after hitting it. Maybe Dave read on my blog that Janish's mom, Debbie, was in the house. Maybe. 1-2-3 inning for Miller. Redlegs 6, Teallegs 0
Top 9: Lincoln back out. Two singles and a double by Gonzalez breaks up the shutout, making it 6-1. Cordero and Bray warming up. Lincoln then hits Helms to load them and he's done. Boos for Lincoln. Cordero in. Might as well. Single by Treanor. 6-3. Jacobs, pinch hitting, Ks. Ross looks at ball 2 on a 1-2 count. The crowd boos, but it was the right call by Larry Vanover. Wow. And then he hits a bomb to tie it up. 6-6. Ugh. Just as I had finished up my postgame quicktake. That's the first blown save of the season for the Reds. Marlins bat around. Cordero gets booed for the first time as a Red. Redlegs 6, Teallegs 6, seriously.
Bottom 9: Lefty Renyel Pinto in. Hairston walks. Good time for 598? It would have been. A fielder's choice wasn't what anyone had in mind. Griffey's out and Ryan Freel at first. 6-4-3 DP, Phillips' fifth of the season. Redlegs 6, Teallegs 6
Top 10: Jared Burton in. 1-2-3. But I wouldn't be happy with the nonchalance by Phillips on the last out if I were Dusty, not when your team just blew a 6-run lead in the ninth. Redlegs 6, Teallegs 6
Bottom 10: Just the other day, I was talking about how Hey Ya may be the best pop song of the last... well, I couldn't pick a time period. But Dave Storm just reminded me. It may have been since Song 2 by Blur. And now it's raining. Perfect. Wow, what does it say about Dusty Baker's confidence in Javy Valentin that he sends David Ross up to pinch hit for Burton. Ross walks on four straight. Bako up next. Not that you want to put the winning run on second, but I'd rather face a guy in his second big-league at-bat than Bako right now. Ball five, ball six, ball seven, ball eight. Perhaps they agreed with me. How perfect would this story be? Johnny Cueto running for Ross. OK. Janish wins it! And this one belongs to the Reds
Big League gag
Reds reliever Josh Fogg walked into the clubhouse Wednesday and couldn't find his glove.
It's not that his glove wasn't in his locker, but it's that it was behind 60 boxes of pennies, weighing 16 pounds each and worth $25 each.
Ken Griffey Jr. owed Fogg $1,500.
"When you owe a man $1,500, you pay him $1,500," Griffey said.
Fogg, couldn't believe it. He said Griffey told him he'd pay him in pennies, but he didn't believe it.
"I'd like to thank the people at National City for making it happen," Griffey said.
Not to mention the clubhouse crew that brought in the pennies and stacked them in Fogg's locker.
"I'm going to take them to the bullpen and count them, I'm free for about nine innings," Fogg said.
Bullpen catcher Mike Stefanski offered Fogg a $1,000 check for the pile and said he'd move them out of his locker for them. Fogg asked Stefanski if he wanted to help count them in the bullpen.
Griffey said he wanted to have them delivered in bags, but he would have felt bad for the people at the bank who would have to count them when Fogg deposited his booty.
Noticing the Brinks stamp on the boxes, Fogg said, "They probably brought them in the Brinks truck with Griffey's paycheck."
Still, Fogg was in disbelief that it actually happened.
"There's not much with a bank I can't do," Griffey said. "Including bouncing it."
Everyone in the clubhouse was pretty impressed by the joke.
"Someone had to keep everyone in this locker room from killing each other," Griffey said.
Reds win game, lose Keppinger
The Reds won the game against the Marlins Tuesday night, but their loss was much bigger.
Shortstop Jeff Keppinger suffered a fractured left patella when he fouled a pitch off his knee in the second inning of the Reds' 5-3 victory at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday.
"Baseball's about consistency and he's been as consistent a player as this team's had all year," said Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who hit his eighth home run of the season in the seventh inning. "It's not a good thing when you lose your best hitter like that."
Keppinger was starting his 36th game of the season at shortstop, and was leading the Reds with a .324 average and 21 RBIs. He was 1-for-1 with an RBI on Tuesday, singling in the first inning and walking with the bases loaded after fouling the ball off his knee in the second.
It wasn't until the fourth inning that Keppinger came out of the game, replaced by Jerry Hairston Jr. at shortstop. Hairston moved from right field to short, Corey Patterson took over Keppinger's place in the lineup and went to center field and Ryan Freel moved from center to right.
"I came up as a shortstop," Hairston said. "The only reason I moved to second was we had an experienced shortstop when I came up with the Orioles in Mike Bordick."
Keppinger had an x-ray taken Tuesday night and Reds manager Dusty Baker said the doctors told him it wasn't as bad of a break as it could have been. Keppinger will have an MRI taken on Wednesday. Still, he is expected to be put on the disabled list and miss a sustantial amount of time.
"It's a huge blow," Hairston said. "To first lose Alex Gonzalez, one of the best shortstops in the game and now Kepp, who’s been our hottest hitter. It's a shame, because he's worked so hard to make a name for himself and he has. He'll be back. We just have to step up and try to fill his shoes a little bit."
Baker said the team hasn't decided who to call up from the minor leagues, but it would be a shock if it were anyone other than Paul Janish.
Janish, 25, is one of the best fielding players in the Reds minor league system and with a 1-for-2 performance in the Bats' victory Tuesday night raised his batting average to .293. He also picked up two RBIs and now has 20 on the season.
Baker said he liked what he saw of Janish in spring training.
"He's a good one, so if he's the one, we’ll have to find a way to match him up with the guys he best suits and Jerry the other ones. It's nice to have guys who can play multiple positions," Baker said. "(Janish) is a slick fielder; he's a big-time slick fielder. He's got some sock in his bat, especially on the high fastball. He's got good speed and it’s a good example of what we've got in the organization."
Keppinger's injury overshadowed Edinson Volquez's effort on the mound. Although not at his best, Volquez still allowed only one run and tied a Major League record by allowing one or no earned runs in his first eight starts of the season. Volquez is the first National League pitcher to ever accomplish the feat. Mike Norris of the A's started the season with eight starts with one or zero earned runs in 1980.
Volquez's start is likely a surprise to everyone but himself.
"No. I can't be surprised because that’s what I’m looking for -- one run or no runs in every outing," Volquez said.
Volquez got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth after giving up his only run of the game on a Hanley Ramirez sacrifice fly by striking out second baseman Dan Uggla for the second time on the night.
"Changeup," Volquez said of the pitch that ended the fifth. "I think it was the best pitch I threw in the game."