Game Notes: Cincinnati Reds 2, Colorado Rockies 1

Aug 6, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Chris Rusin (18) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Game notes from the Colorado Rockies’ game Tuesday afternoon at Great American Ballpark against the Cincinnati Reds.

61. 1. 108. Final. 2

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Chris Rusin had a phenomenal start for the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night and kept the club in the game during his emergency appearance even though the offensive execution left something to be desired.

Nevertheless, the Rockies had their opportunities throughout the day thanks to a timely home run by Nick Hundley and Rusin’s great performance followed up by clean work from the bullpen.

Unfortunately, it didn’t happen for the club, as they lost on a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nevertheless, let’s review some notes and tidbits from the affair Tuesday evening:

It rained in Cincinnati during the game today. What a shock! This season, the Rockies have dealt with more than ten hours of rain delays thus far, including four postponements of games at home. The Rockies and Dodgers will play a doubleheader one day next week thanks to one of the rainouts.
Since the beginning of 2014, the Rockies have the worst record in all of baseball, with a .410 winning percentage. That’s not a good stat.
Before tonight, Chris Rusin had never thrown more than six innings in a start; he threw seven, now setting his Major League career high, on Tuesday evening in Cincinnati.
The amateur draft is coming up in about two weeks, and to look ahead a little bit since the broadcast crew was talking about it tonight: the Rockies have four of the first 44 selections in this year’s amateur draft. Considering how solid their farm system is, the prospect of adding four (or more) big prospects to it is certainly exciting.
Nick Hundley‘s solo home run today was the first he has ever hit in Cincinnati. It’s also his fifth of the season. In comparison, in 83 games last year, he only hit six home runs total.
Last year, Troy Tulowitzki hit .369 on fastballs. This year? Only .282 thus far. In the ninth inning against Aroldis Chapman, Tulo struck out on a 101-mph fastball about six feet off the ground.
Tulo, along with Nolan Arenado, were the right guys at the plate for the ninth inning against Chapman, and they both had opportunities in the ninth to break the tie with two runners on base, but neither could do anything.
Brooks Brown tossed a scoreless eighth and then came on for the ninth, eventually allowing the walk-off double to Skip Schumaker after giving up a lead-off walk to Marlon Byrd. Before Schumaker’s at-bat, lefties had hit just .182 off Brown this year, but his preferable splits couldn’t help him in this particular game.

Tuesday’s Most Valuable Player

Chris Rusin. Regardless of how the game ended, Rusin shoved in Cincinnati tonight, tossing seven frames and allowing just four hits and four walks – and one run – while striking out five Reds on 90 pitches. On a tough, rainy night to hit – against a good start from the Reds’ hurler, Michael Lorenzen – Rusin made an emergency spot start on the road and

Tuesday’s Least Valuable Player

Brooks Brown. Tough to give it to Brown, who pitched 1.1 innings in a tie game and allowed a bloop, weakly hit double, but he did issue a lead-off walk in the ninth inning. Lead off walks in the bottom of the ninth inning of tie games are never, ever good for the pitcher’s team. Never.

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