MLB Jerseys Cincinnati Reds 4 Brandon Phillips Whi

CINCINNATI — After undergoing Tommy John surgery and not pitching since last May, it seemed reasonable that Edinson Volquez would struggle initially upon his return to the rotation. Despite four solid rehab starts and a stellar season debut, it appears there will be a slight adjustment period for Volquez after all.Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by AC Milan in their opening Emirates Cup match on Saturday, despite the efforts of new signing Marouane Chamakh. MLB JERSEYS On Sunday afternoon, Volquez struggled with his control for the third consecutive start, but he was effective enough to keep the score close and give the Reds a chance to do what they do best — come from behind to win.Volquez overcame five walks to earn his second victory and Brandon Phillips tripled to ignite a two-out rally in the fifth as the Reds defeated the Braves, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game series before a sellout crowd of 40,871 at sun-splashed Great American Ball Park.”We beat a good team at their game, with pitching and defense,” said Reds manager Cheap Jerseys Dusty Baker. “I’m still sweating from the tension. That’s the kind of game that can help our young players learn how to win down the stretch. That was a playoff atmosphere.”
The Cardinals defeated Pittsburgh, 9-1, on Sunday, so the Reds remained one-half game behind St. Louis in the National League Central.The Reds took two out of three from the Braves before a total paid attendance of 122,855, highest ever for a weekend series at Great American Ball Park.”We fed off the energy from the fans,” said Phillips. “Man, different isn’t the word. I’ve been here since 2006, and I’ve never seen it like this. I think all of Cincinnati was at the game today.”Volquez (2-1) issued eight walks and gave up 10 earned runs combined in two previous starts. This after an impressive season debut on July 17, when he allowed one run on three hits and struck out nine in six innings against Colorado.On Sunday, Volquez was able to battle through the control issues and, aside from a solo home run allowed to Alex Gonzalez on an 0-2 pitch in the second, he was able to keep the Braves’ offense at bay.”I felt great today,” Volquez said. “There was a lot of emotion out there early in the game. I had to kind of settle down. I’m starting to put everything together. Cheap MLB Jerseys Cincinnati Reds Jersey The last thing to come is command. If you can’t control your fastball, you’re in trouble. It’s coming.”
Volquez wriggled out of a jam in the first, when a walk and an infield single put runners on first and third with one out. But Volquez struck out Brian McCann and got Eric Hinske to fly out to end the inning.Gonzalez snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a solo home run on an 0-2 pitch from Volquez to put the Braves ahead, 1-0.”I just missed it,” said Volquez. “I was trying to keep the pitch down, and I got it up.However, there was no place in the squad for Manuel Almunia,NHL Washington Capitals Jerseys, whose place as number one is in doubt, as Lukasz Fabianski started and fellow young Pole Wojciech Szczesny was on the bench.I was just trying to get through the fifth. I got some run support, and the bullpen did a great job.Volquez issued three walks and needed 46 pitches to get through the first two innings.”There’s a tendency to not trust your stuff when you come back like that, particularly in the heat of a pennant race,” said Baker. “He’ll be much better next year, but hopefully, we can get him on a roll this year.”Braves starter Tommy Hanson (8-8) handcuffed the Reds through four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. He lasted 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked just one and struck out five.
The Reds staged one of their signature two-out rallies against Hanson in the fifth.Phillips tripled past the diving Jason Heyward into the right-field corner to score Ramon Hernandez and tie the score at 1.”I knew if he didn’t catch it, it would be a triple,” Phillips said. “Once we got the lead, I knew that was the ballgame. Hanson was hitting his spots.On 21 minutes, Vermaelen flicked Samir Nasri’s corner goalwards, but goalkeeper Christian Abbiati palmed the ball away. Cheap Jerseys He just left one up.”Orlando Cabrera followed with a ground ball to Gonzalez, who booted it for an error, allowing Phillips to score the go-ahead run from third.”We got a break there,” said Baker. “He’s sure-handed.There were a few jeers for AC Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who left Arsenal in May 2008 after refusing to sign a new deal with the Gunners.He doesn’t make errors like that.”The Reds’ bullpen allowed just one hit and two walks over four innings to close out the victory.Nick Masset extended his scoreless streak to 12 appearances. Jordan Smith pitched a scoreless sixth and has not allowed a run in eight consecutive appearances since the All-Star break.Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 29th save, allowing only a double to Heyward.