Wild One in Cincinnati (No, Not Brando)

The Reds beat the Cubs 17-12 tonight at Cinergy Field. They also outhit Chicago 22-17. Every starting position player on both teams got at least a hit. The two teams used a total of 14 pitchers (love those September call-ups) and 42 total players. The seventh sport in the batting order was particularly abused: Six different players were listed in the 7th spot for Chicago and 9 (!) for Cincinnati (imagine scoring that). Ruben Mateo ended up playing all three outfield positions.

Shawn Estes continued to pitch poorly since his acquisition from the Mets to help in the Reds' pennant chase. His line looked like this: 1 inning pitched, 5 hits, 6 runs (all earned),2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 39 pitches, and a 19 game score. He spotted the Cubs to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first but the Reds got him off the hook scoring 10 over their last three innings.

John Riedling picked up the win by striking out the only batter he faced (Hee Seop Choi) with men at first and third and two out in the eighth. Chicago had just scored three to take a 12-11 lead, but Kyle Farnsworth gave up 4 to the Reds in the bottom of the eighth to give them the lead to stay. Farnsworth intentionaly walked Ken Griffey Jr. to load the bases with one out and then struck out Jason LaRue but allowed the tying run to score on a wild pitch. After Reggie Taylor walked, Todd Walker had the big hit with a 2-out, bases loaded double to cap a 4-for-6 night. Too bad it doesn't mean anything with both teams out of the playoffs.