Not easy to find a silver lining in a 12-0 loss at home. But on Tuesday the Reds kept a Reds Killer from what would’ve been an impressive and fairly rare achievement.
When he stepped to the plate in the 9th, Reds Killer Rafael Furcal was one hit shy of a 6-hit night (in a 9-inning game) – a feat only accomplished four times in the National League in the past decade (and I believe this would’ve been the first one in the Majors so far this season). But it was Jordan Smith (who – wearing No. 62 – is sandwiched between Bronson Arroyo and our main man Sam LeCure) – in his Major League Debut – who kept Furcal from notching the elusive sixth hit of the game.
Furcal did, however, go 5-for-6 to improve his career average against the Reds to .346 in 263 at-bats. Ouch. That’s his best against any NL opponent.
Manny Ramirez spent a long time in the American League but he’s done his best to become a Reds Killer in just 86 at-bats against us. After Tuesday’s 3-for-4 effort, Manny is now hitting .430 in his career against the Reds. Eleven of his 37 hits against the Reds have been home runs.
Not to be outdone is first baseman James Loney, who went 4-for-5 Tuesday to raise his career average against the Reds to .415 (34-for-82).
