John Clay's Sidelines

I’m at Great American Ballpark today for Reds vs. Phillies. While watching game, will post updates, observations, etc., concerning this titanic tilt, as Marty likes to say.

• Philadelphia 9th: Cordero allows a one-out single to pinch-hitter Ross Gload. That’s it for Philadelphia. Cordero picks up save. Bruce’s homer in the 8th wins it. Final: Cincinnati 4, Philadelphia 3.

• Cincinnati 8th: Jay Bruce cranks a two-run homer off Halladay to give the Reds the lead. Another Cincinnati come back. The Reds trailed 3-0 against arguably the best pitcher in the game before rallying. Now Cordero comes on in the ninth. Cincinnati up 4-3.

• Philadelphia 8th: Arthur Rhodes comes on and retires Phillies in order. After finally giving up some runs last night, Rhodes fans the first two batters, then gets Ibanez to line to center. Today’s attendance is 27,245. There were 6,178 walk-ups. Philadelphia 3-2.

• Cincinnati 7th: Couple of bad breaks keep Reds from a tie, or the possibility. Orlando Cabrera’s single drives in Ramon Hernandez, but the ball isn’t hit hard enough to drive in Brandon Phillips from second base. Phillips has to put on the brakes at third. Then Joey Votto takes a called third strike on a pitch that was clearly low and outside. Scott Rolen then pops up to shallow right to end the inning. Reds have climbed back in it, but might not get a better chance. Philadelphia 3, Cincinnati 2.

• Philadelphia 7th: Harang is lifted after giving up one-out single. He goes 6 and 1/3 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, all earned, one walk with five strike outs. He threw 113 pitches. Logan Ondrusek came on to get two fly balls to center field. Stubbs made an excellent running catch on the second fly out. He really is a terrific center fielder. Phillies up 3-1.

• Cincinnati 6th: Joey Votto leads off inning with 18th homer of the year. Then Scott Rolen strokes a single. But Halladay fans the side after that, including called third strikes on both Bruce and Stubbs. Neither were happy. Phillies lead now 3-1.

• Philadelphia 6th: Phillies get a couple of singles, but nothing else. This time, with two on and two out, Sardinha hits a can of corn to center to end inning. Harang has given up seven hits and three runs through six innings. Philadelphia up 3-0.

• Cincinnati 5th: Reds go harmlessly in the inning. Halladay has allowed five hits through five. Phillies up 3-0.

• Philadelphia 5th: Harang bounces back to get Philadelphia in order in the fifth. Phillies still lead 3-0.

• Cincinnati 4th: Runners at first and third, Halladay fanned Drew Stubbs on three pitches for second out. Then Hernandez popped out to end inning. Gomes had a soft double just past Ryan Howard, and Jay Bruce a solid single to right to forge the threat. Phillies still up 3-0.

• Philadelphia 4th: Rolling along, until the wheels rolled off. Harang had been splendid through first three, then gave up singles to Werth and Valdez. Two outs, no problem. Dane Sardinha, former Reds’ farmhand, at the plate for the Phillies. The catcher is hitting .167. First pitch, Sardinha hits a three-run jack off Harang into the left field seats. Philadelphia 3, Cincinnati 0.

• Cincinnati 3rd: Halladay retires Reds 1-2-3, striking out Cabrera and Votto. He’s thrown just 33 pitches through the first three innings. No score.

• Philadelphia 3rd: Harang gives up two-out walk to Greg Dobbs, then gets Rollins to foul out to Rolen to end inning. The Cincinnati starter has given up just two hits through three innings. The hits came from the first two batters Harang faced. He’s retired nine of 10 since. No score.

• Cincinnati 2nd: Reds get two-out singles from Drew Stubbs and Ramon Hernandez. But on first pitch, Harang bounces weakly to Wilson Valdez at second base. Reds do have three hits off Halladay in two innings. No score.

• Philadelphia 2nd: Couple of sparkling defensive plays. Phillips barehands ball at second base bag and throws out Wilson Valdez for second out. Then Jay Bruce runs down Dane Sardinha’s liner in right field for third out. Harang has three strike outs, two called, in first two innings. No score.

• Cincinnati 1st: Brandon Phillips leads off with single, but Reds go quietly against Halladay after that. After his single, Phillips appeared to have second base stolen, but Orlando Cabrera reached out and popped up ball to second base. Phillips was forced to hustle back to first. No score.

• Philadelphia 1st: First two Phillies reach, but then Harang gets Jimmy Rollins on a controversial called strike three. Rollins was halfway to first base with what he thought was a walk. Then after Ryan Howard grounded out, moving the runners up, Harang fanned a swinging Jayson Werth on a 3-2 pitch. No score.

• A pleasant 73 degrees at first pitch.

• Roy Halladay vs. Aaron Harang is the pitching matchup. Harang brings a 5.07 ERA into this afternoon’s contest. Halladay is 9-6 with a 2.29 ERA.