Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY
Game 2 of 3
I missed Donn Roach again, but fortune favors me anyhow; RHP Robert Stephenson and RHP Toru Murata both had their starts moved up. I'm all about Japanese players, especially pitchers, so seeing Murata here was probably the best bonus this boy could have hoped for. Stephenson's early exit and Murata's stellar performance meant the Bats were shut out, but I'm not complaining very much.
My scoresheets, using my pitch-counting method! Read about it HERE, download the scoresheets for free HERE!
Some video of Murata warming up; notice the glorious inside spin, so much #sparkle
Murata is an NPB import oddity in that while he was a first-round pick by the Yomiuri Giants in 2007, he never pitched in NPB and after two years of minor league service time, was released. The Indians subsequently signed him, and in a path that is atypical for his fellow imports, he's been riding the organizational circuit from A league all the way up to AAA now.
Stephenson pitching to switch-hitting COL OF Michael Martinez. Stephenson was a bit off tonight, and left in the 3rd with a wrist strain after walking the first two batters (one of them would score)
Murata vs. LOU 2B Juan Perez
Murata vs. LOU SS Kristopher Negron
Murata faces LOU OF Adam Duvall...where Brennan Boesch was the story last month, Duvall has majestically stepped in to usurp his spotlight, and rightfully so.
Duvall was born and raised in Louisville, attended Butler HS and the University of Louisville, when the San Francisco Giants drafted him in the 11th round of the 2010 draft. Duvall arrived in Louisville just a couple of weeks ago, as one of the 2 pieces in the Mike Leake trade. While Reds fans are mourning the systematic extrication of their 25-man roster, local fans are exuberant that Duvall has returned home...not only that, but his shot at permanence on a big league roster is real, now that he's here and not really blocked by other Giants anymore.
Murata gets OF Juan Silva to ground out, 3B Hernan Iribarren to 1B Chris Dominguez
Martinez singles off reliever RHP Donovan Hand
Another new addition in Louisville, albeit not so highly touted locally as Duvall, is LHP Brandon Finnegan. Finnegan was a Kansas City Postseason hero, yet found himself traded to the Reds (along with Cody Reed and John Lamb) for Johnny Cueto. Henceforth my reference earlier to "systematic extrication." I haven't seen Finnegan pitch yet, but today I see him coaching first base.
RHP Miguel Celestino faces COL DH Jesus Aguilar
COL LHP Giovanni Soto (not Geovany Soto, the pot-smoking former Cub and former ROY) versus Perez
Another solo run in the Mystery Rookie Card game, WHOA...it's former five-tool Reds prospect Chris Heisey.
Not really sure where his tools fell off to, but he was a fan favorite here in Louisville, and had a fairly decent run with the Reds several years ago...sure, he had loads of crackling value for a 17th round pick, but took the short straw in an end of the year deal to the Dodgers for Matt Magill in 2014. Magill made a few starts here to start the season, but was plagued with injuries and released in June.
Official Program (featuring Robert Stephenson) and Scorecard
Ticket
Bat Chat and Gameday Stats
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