Seeing Red

The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, both representing the NL Central, are looking to advance to the ALCS this October

By Greg Ackerman

The Red Legs and the Red Birds are both looking to move on to the National League Championship Series.

(AP Photo)

The NL Central is well represented this postseason, and there is a very good chance at least one NL Central team reaches the National League Championship Series. The defending World Series champs, the St. Louis Cardinals, are tied at one game apiece with the Washington Nationals. The Cincinnati Reds meanwhile, are leading the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in the best of five series, and have two more opportunities at home to close out the series.

On Friday, the Cardinals (88-74) visited the Atlanta Braves (94-68) in the first NL Wild Card single-elimination playoff game ever, which was added to the Major League Baseball postseason this year.   The winner would host the Nationals two days later.   The Cardinals had a tough task, facing Kris Medlen. The Braves won a Major League record 23 straight games when Medlen started, dating back to 2010.  

The Braves opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, when David Ross hit a two-run home run off of Kyle Lohse. Ross was a surprise addition to the lineup, taking over for starting catcher Brian McCann, who missed the game due to injury. The Cardinals then scored six straight runs before the Braves answered back with a run in the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinals took a six to three lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. With men on first and second with one man out, Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit a popup into shallow left field that fell between Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma and left fielder Matt Holliday.   The Braves thought they had the tying run on first base, but the umpires called the infield fly rule, which enraged the Braves and their fans, and the game was delayed due to fans throwing trash onto the field.  

Jason Motte shut the door in the ninth, and the Cardinals won the game six to three and a National League Division Series berth.  

The Cardinals hosted the Nationals for Sunday’s NLDS Game 1. The Nationals scored one run off of Adam Wainwright in the top second inning, but the Cardinals struck back with two runs in the bottom of the second off Gio Gonzalez. The game remained 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals until the eighth inning, when pinch-hitter Tyler Moore got a two out, two-RBI single to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead. Tyler Clippard pitched the bottom of the eighth and Drew Storen pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to give the Nationals a 1-0 series lead.  

The next day, the Cardinals tied up the series with a 12-4 victory.   The Cardinals roughed up Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann and reliever Craig Stammen for seven runs in the first four innings. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia left the game due to shoulder soreness after the second inning, but the Cardinals offense and bullpen were able to preserve the blowout victory.  

Game 3 is today at 12 PM in Washington D.C. The probable starters are Chris Carpenter for St. Louis and Edwin Jackson for Washington.  

The Reds took the first two games of their series in San Francisco, giving them three chances to clinch the series at home.   The Reds won Saturday’s game one 5-2, but used six pitchers in the process and lost Cy Young candidate Johnny Cueto due to injury after one out. Cueto’s status for the rest of the postseason is uncertain.  

The next day, the Reds won nine to nothing, thanks to a gem by Bronson Arroyo, who allowed one hit and zero runs in seven innings of work.  

Game three was yesterday, with the Reds having a chance to sweep. Homer Bailey had an excellent start in his first start since his no-hitter. Bailey allowed one hit and one run in seven innings of work. Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong matched Bailey’s excellent performance, allowing only one run in five innings.  

The game was tied after nine innings and went into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton allowed two singles to Buster Posey and Hunter Pence to begin the inning, then struck out Brandon Belt and Xavier Nady. The next batter was Joaquin Arias. During his at bat, the Reds defense collapsed.  Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan allowed a passed ball, allowing the runners to advance to second and third, and Scott Rolen made a fielding error on an Arias ground ball, which allowed the winning run to score.  

Game four is today at 4 PM in Cincinnati.   The Reds have another chance to clinch a National League Championship Series berth.