Lopez's grand game powers Reds
CINCINNATI -- They began the season in obscurity, forgotten men often left watching from the bench.
But on Saturday night, Brandon Claussen and Felipe Lopez were very much in the forefront.
As Claussen put up the strongest start of his career, Lopez turned in the most productive day of his.
What the two came out with was a 10-1 Reds thumping of the Orioles in front of 32,834 at Great American Ball Park.
Claussen tossed a career-high eight innings while holding the Major Leagues' top-hitting offense to a mere run on three hits. Lopez swatted the second grand slam of his career in the second inning and went on to post a career-high six RBIs.
"It's a long season," manager Dave Miley said. "It's basically a tribute to both of them. Looking back in the archives, we went at least 10 days without using [Claussen], and Felipe started out with a bench role. But they both kept working."
Now Claussen is in the rotation, and Lopez is the everyday shortstop. This game proved why.
Claussen (3-3, 3.83 ERA) was masterful in throwing 4 1/3 perfect innings, until Rafael Palmeiro finally touched him for a soft single to center field in the fifth.
"He hit a good pitch," Claussen said of Palmeiro. "It was 0-2. I felt like it wasn't over the plate. He reached out and got it. You just tip your hat to the guy."
That was one of the few tips of the hat the left-handed Claussen had to give out in this one. Unless, of course, he wanted to pay tribute to his supporting cast, which backed him with plenty of early run support against Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera.
The Reds jumped all over Cabrera (5-5, 5.88) in the second inning. They loaded the bases for Javier Valentin, who drew a walk to bring in the game's first run. One out later, Lopez stepped up and all but sealed the game in the Reds' favor.
Cabrera threw Lopez a 1-1 hanging slider that hung a bit too long, and Lopez crushed it over the right-field wall for the grand slam.
"He got me in the first inning with a similar pitch," Lopez said of Cabrera. "I just tried to stay back and hit it hard somewhere. The ball stayed up, and I took advantage of it."
Lopez's previous grand slam came April 27 in Chicago in a game lost by the Reds. But with Claussen in total command of the Major Leagues' best-hitting offense, the Reds had little chance of losing this one.
Even with the big lead -- a lead that jumped to 7-0 when Adam Dunn launched a two-run shot to right-center field in the third inning -- Claussen kept dealing.
"For some guys, that's difficult to do," Miley said. "But he used all his pitches and kept their guys off stride."
Claussen said it was no trouble at all.
"Mentally, you're thinking the game is still 0-0," he said. "It's just nice to come out of the game, look up and see you've got a 10. Any pitcher can tell you once you get in that groove, pitching's easy. The key is just staying in it."
Claussen stayed in it, and Lopez and the rest of the Reds kept feeding him run support. Lopez's two-run single and Sean Casey's RBI single off reliever John Parrish gave Claussen that 10 he was looking for.
By the time Claussen finally did make a mistake -- serving up a solo home run to Sal Fasano in the eighth -- this game was long over with.
And so two guys once listed in the latter half of the 25-man roster way back on Opening Day were instrumental in staking the Reds to their fourth win in five games.
To Claussen, it was just a matter of two players doing what they're paid to do.
"I might have been in a relief role [earlier this year], but I was on this team," he said. "I'm sure Felipe feels the same way. Any way we can help out, we'll do whatever it takes. I'm thankful -- and I'm sure Lopie's thankful -- for the opportunity."
The Reds were thankful for the result.
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
But on Saturday night, Brandon Claussen and Felipe Lopez were very much in the forefront.
As Claussen put up the strongest start of his career, Lopez turned in the most productive day of his.
What the two came out with was a 10-1 Reds thumping of the Orioles in front of 32,834 at Great American Ball Park.
Claussen tossed a career-high eight innings while holding the Major Leagues' top-hitting offense to a mere run on three hits. Lopez swatted the second grand slam of his career in the second inning and went on to post a career-high six RBIs.
"It's a long season," manager Dave Miley said. "It's basically a tribute to both of them. Looking back in the archives, we went at least 10 days without using [Claussen], and Felipe started out with a bench role. But they both kept working."
Now Claussen is in the rotation, and Lopez is the everyday shortstop. This game proved why.
Claussen (3-3, 3.83 ERA) was masterful in throwing 4 1/3 perfect innings, until Rafael Palmeiro finally touched him for a soft single to center field in the fifth.
"He hit a good pitch," Claussen said of Palmeiro. "It was 0-2. I felt like it wasn't over the plate. He reached out and got it. You just tip your hat to the guy."
That was one of the few tips of the hat the left-handed Claussen had to give out in this one. Unless, of course, he wanted to pay tribute to his supporting cast, which backed him with plenty of early run support against Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera.
The Reds jumped all over Cabrera (5-5, 5.88) in the second inning. They loaded the bases for Javier Valentin, who drew a walk to bring in the game's first run. One out later, Lopez stepped up and all but sealed the game in the Reds' favor.
Cabrera threw Lopez a 1-1 hanging slider that hung a bit too long, and Lopez crushed it over the right-field wall for the grand slam.
"He got me in the first inning with a similar pitch," Lopez said of Cabrera. "I just tried to stay back and hit it hard somewhere. The ball stayed up, and I took advantage of it."
Lopez's previous grand slam came April 27 in Chicago in a game lost by the Reds. But with Claussen in total command of the Major Leagues' best-hitting offense, the Reds had little chance of losing this one.
Even with the big lead -- a lead that jumped to 7-0 when Adam Dunn launched a two-run shot to right-center field in the third inning -- Claussen kept dealing.
"For some guys, that's difficult to do," Miley said. "But he used all his pitches and kept their guys off stride."
Claussen said it was no trouble at all.
"Mentally, you're thinking the game is still 0-0," he said. "It's just nice to come out of the game, look up and see you've got a 10. Any pitcher can tell you once you get in that groove, pitching's easy. The key is just staying in it."
Claussen stayed in it, and Lopez and the rest of the Reds kept feeding him run support. Lopez's two-run single and Sean Casey's RBI single off reliever John Parrish gave Claussen that 10 he was looking for.
By the time Claussen finally did make a mistake -- serving up a solo home run to Sal Fasano in the eighth -- this game was long over with.
And so two guys once listed in the latter half of the 25-man roster way back on Opening Day were instrumental in staking the Reds to their fourth win in five games.
To Claussen, it was just a matter of two players doing what they're paid to do.
"I might have been in a relief role [earlier this year], but I was on this team," he said. "I'm sure Felipe feels the same way. Any way we can help out, we'll do whatever it takes. I'm thankful -- and I'm sure Lopie's thankful -- for the opportunity."
The Reds were thankful for the result.
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
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