Reds Hold On to Edge the Cubs in the First Game of Season on a Perfect Evening for Baseball at Samp Field
| 5/7/13: Minor Reds @ Cubs - By winning the first game of the season against a Cubs team that did not give up, the 2013 Reds have already won more games than they did all of last season. A great start for Reds, while the Cubs, who nearly overcame a 4-run deficit in late innings, showed up as a team not to be underestimated. On an evening made for playing baseball, Reds' starting pitcher, Casey Williams struck out the first 3 batters he faced by aiming darts into the well-placed mitt of his battery mate Jules Hansell. In bottom half of the first, the Reds' Marc Holland got his first hit and later scored on a fielder's choice by Andrew Millar, beating the tag at home, just barely . . . With Mighty Casey on the mound the next 9 Cubs went down swinging their bats, but at least were taking their cuts. Meanwhile, the Reds wasted a few chances to score and were caught in a double play smartly executed by pitcher Aidan Davis and the Cubs' 2nd baseman. In the 4th, walks to Reds' Nathaniel Dickie and Mathis "Batman" Hansell resulted in 2 runs when Nicky Mackool-Weiner stepped in and stroked a triple down the right field line. Seamus Gardner then drove in what proved to be the winning run by pushing a ground ball to right side of the infield knocking in Nicky. With a comfortable 4-0 lead the Reds seemed to be on the verge, but their comfort was short-lived. In the top half of the 5th, the Cubs' bats woke up and in very quick order, Bryce Lewis and Ari Harris each singled to the outfield and the momentum was all in their favor. Into the batter's box stepped Lou Targoff, and all he did was clear the bases with an inside the park home run, putting the Cubbies back in the game much to the surprise of the Reds. In the bottom half of the 5th, the Reds loaded the bases with walks to Mark, Jules and Andrew and were again ready to score. The Cubs however, were having none of that and got a force out at home, and the Reds left the everyone on base going into the 6th. Though the Cubs came out swinging, the Reds regained some composure and with Andrew closing out the last hitter, the game was just as suddenly over with the Reds winning after very long dry spell. At the end, the two gritty and well-matched teams congratulated each other on what was indeed a very good game between 2 friendly rivals. Pitch Count: Reds > > > Casey, 76 Andrew, 5 Cubs > > > Aidan, 79 Ari, 25 Home Run: Lou Targoff, Cubs Reds > > > Triple: Nicky Double: Kalel Singles: Ben, 2 Mark, Jules, Casey, Seamus Cubs > > > Singles: Bryce, Ari Written & submitted by: Jeff Hansell |  The Reds getting ready to play  Cubs pre-game  Reds' pitcher Casey in good form  Jules was behind the plate for the entire game  Good game, good game, good game . . . |
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