Reds prayers answered by “get-the-job-done” attitude

“You know what my plan was up there?” Reds First Basemen Joey Votto said to Dodger Matt Beatty after his game-winning two run double, “It was to get a hit.”

Beatty followed up with “That’s good, compete mode, it’s good-” Votto interrupted “No, no no… I was in have-to-get-a-hit mode.”

Post-game Votto revealed this story and added the quote of the year for the Reds “Sometimes you just have to get the job done. And if you don’t get the job done, then you have to pray.”

The Reds have been in prayer mode for about a week, but two-games into a vital early season series against the defending World Series champion Dodgers on the road at Chavez Ravine, they have shifted into get-the-job-done-mode.

After stopping a skid in game-one the Reds trailed by one in the 7th in game two with Votto at the dish.

As Votto looked out at runners on first and second, two out, and a full count the Reds three -hole hitter gave a flash into the past with a clutch double down the right field line.

Two scored and the Reds regained the lead, which led to Fulmer, Hembree, and Dolittle giving their best Charlton, Dibble, and Myers impersonation of the season.

The Reds relieving trio combined for three scoreless innings, no hits, one walk, and four strikeouts enroute to slamming the door on the Dodgers.

In game one the Reds were rewarded with the first of two gems from Reds pitching by Tyler Mahle, as he put together a five-inning one run outing.

Amir Garrett’s bullpen woes continued as the only blemish, as the Dodgers tied it in the seventh, but then that second gem came from Tejay Antone, as he put together a three inning 53 pitch outing from the bullpen to earn the win.

But Antone’s outing would not have mattered without the hottest hitter in baseball, Jesse Winker, depositing an 0-1 chest high fastball into the left field seats to give the Reds their 5-3 lead, closed out by Antone working out of a jam in the 10th.

The Reds will do their best to bring the brooms out in game three, but after coming in with some stomach churning anxiety for wins, already clinching a series victory is a good start to fixing a team that was beginning to wobble.

The series concludes with an afternoon tilt Wednesday with a 4:10 eastern first pitch. On the bump for the Reds will be Sonny Gray who is still trying to find his footing.

After already giving the Reds plenty to handle with Urias and Buehler in games one and two the Dodgers bring future hall of famer Clayton Kershaw to the hill for the finale.