MLB Tue, Aug 2, 2005
Red hot: Cincy`s streak cutting losses
Josh Hansen
It may only a matter of time before Cincinnatti is out of the red.
Once the National League Central’s black sheep, the Reds are sheering the cash from opposing teams and turning it into cashmere sweaters for their backers. Since the Midsummer Classic, the Reds have won 12 of 18.
“I liken what Cincinnati is doing right now to what Houston did last month,” says Covers Expert Tony George, referring to Houston’s incredible 22-5 run in July.
They may still be at the starting line, but the cash is already falling into the laps of the team`s supporters as oddsmakers have yet to catch wind of Cincinnati’s smoking play of late. They dogged the Reds five times during their last six games - their only loss was Tuesday night versus Atlanta – helping Cincinnati bank nearly eight units and cut the club`s losses to about 11 units on the year.
“They went on a big run, their pitchers got hot," George added. "Throw the ERAs out the window and start looking at the last couple of games. Look at he run support, they’re batting better, all those things are falling into place.”
Led by Adam Dunn, Cincinnati poured out 24 runs for their first series sweep in nearly two months against the San Diego Padres over the weekend, extending their season-high winning streak to five games.
"You can see everyone kind of relaxing now, it`s like the pressure`s off people and you can just go out and play now,” Dunn told the Cincinnati Post. “That`s what everyone`s doing and everyone`s numbers in the second half have kind of reflected that."
It wasn’t anything new for one of the league’s most potent offense. But what’s really been the key to Cincinnati’s success is the rebirth of a once absent pitching staff.
Before Tuesday`s loss to Atlanta, Cincinnati hurlers owned a slim 1.80 ERA and surrendered just four runs to the Padres. Don’t forget the reserves. They hadn’t walked a batter in 14 innings and had retired 19 straight batters before San Diego’s Damian Jackson reached on an error Sunday night.
“I think the thing that`s changed for us is we`ve been getting some decent pitching," said Rich Aurilia. "The bullpen`s kind of settled in and the starters are going longer in games and guys know their roles now.”
Oddsmakers have set the Reds as +129 home underdogs hosting Atlanta tonight. The run total opened at 10.
Red hot: Cincy`s streak cutting losses
Josh Hansen
It may only a matter of time before Cincinnatti is out of the red.
Once the National League Central’s black sheep, the Reds are sheering the cash from opposing teams and turning it into cashmere sweaters for their backers. Since the Midsummer Classic, the Reds have won 12 of 18.
“I liken what Cincinnati is doing right now to what Houston did last month,” says Covers Expert Tony George, referring to Houston’s incredible 22-5 run in July.
They may still be at the starting line, but the cash is already falling into the laps of the team`s supporters as oddsmakers have yet to catch wind of Cincinnati’s smoking play of late. They dogged the Reds five times during their last six games - their only loss was Tuesday night versus Atlanta – helping Cincinnati bank nearly eight units and cut the club`s losses to about 11 units on the year.
“They went on a big run, their pitchers got hot," George added. "Throw the ERAs out the window and start looking at the last couple of games. Look at he run support, they’re batting better, all those things are falling into place.”
Led by Adam Dunn, Cincinnati poured out 24 runs for their first series sweep in nearly two months against the San Diego Padres over the weekend, extending their season-high winning streak to five games.
"You can see everyone kind of relaxing now, it`s like the pressure`s off people and you can just go out and play now,” Dunn told the Cincinnati Post. “That`s what everyone`s doing and everyone`s numbers in the second half have kind of reflected that."
It wasn’t anything new for one of the league’s most potent offense. But what’s really been the key to Cincinnati’s success is the rebirth of a once absent pitching staff.
Before Tuesday`s loss to Atlanta, Cincinnati hurlers owned a slim 1.80 ERA and surrendered just four runs to the Padres. Don’t forget the reserves. They hadn’t walked a batter in 14 innings and had retired 19 straight batters before San Diego’s Damian Jackson reached on an error Sunday night.
“I think the thing that`s changed for us is we`ve been getting some decent pitching," said Rich Aurilia. "The bullpen`s kind of settled in and the starters are going longer in games and guys know their roles now.”
Oddsmakers have set the Reds as +129 home underdogs hosting Atlanta tonight. The run total opened at 10.
