News
Votto was double trouble in September
Cincinnati (76-83) vs. Pittsburgh (61-97), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/01/09 5:36 PM EST
CINCINNATI -- Reds first baseman Joey Votto is causing double trouble for opposing pitchers. In the first inning on Wednesday vs. the Cardinals, Votto blooped a double to shallow left field. It gave him 16 doubles in September, which set the franchise record for most doubles in a calendar month. Amazingly, no one on the Big Red Machine accomplished the feat. Votto broke Harry Heilmann's record of 15 doubles in a month, set in July 1930. "To be honest with you, that's something I'm pretty proud of," Votto said on Thursday. "I try to be more of a line-drive hitter, and you can't get much better than hitting doubles." Votto, who was named the National League's Player of the Week on Monday, has been locked in and making contact during virtually every plate appearance. Thursday's 13-0 loss to the Cardinals was a rare time he didn't get a hit. Votto's hitting streak ended at 11 games after his 0-for-2 day. Since Sept. 10, Votto is batting a Major League leading .425 (31-for-73), which raised his overall batting average from a season-low .296 to .317 with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs. In August, which coincided with the one-year anniversary of his father's passing, Votto batted only .220. "It was a matter of not getting ready and being in a good position to hit," Votto said. "Because of not being in a position to hit, it was causing me to miss all of the pitches I had been missing. "August was a difficult month for me. I hate to say [an] off-the-field [issue] had anything to do with on-the-field [production], but it really did. It was nice to get over that point in my life and concentrate on baseball again. I'm not going to come out and hit the way I've been hitting all the time. But there's a big difference between the way I was playing a little while ago and now." Pitching matchupCIN: RHP Justin Lehr (5-2, 5.46 ERA)
Lehr will fill in for Matt Maloney, who had to be replaced due to a blister on his left middle finger. Lehr is 1-1 with an 8.18 ERA in 11 innings over two starts against the Pirates this year. He's made five starts each at home and on the road this season, faring considerably better at Great American Ball Park. He's 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA at home, compared to 3-2 with a 6.67 ERA on the road. PIT: RHP Daniel McCutchen (0-2, 4.80 ERA)
McCutchen made the best start of his young career in his previous outing, though the right-hander is still looking for his first Major League win. Showing an aggressiveness and command of the strike zone that he did not have in his four previous starts, McCutchen limited Los Angeles to just two runs as he pitched into the seventh. And for the first time, he did not allow a home run in his start. McCutchen made his Major League debut in a start against the Reds back on Aug. 31. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. McCutchen, who did not factor in the decision that day, also struck out five. Reds notes:
Pitcher Micah Owings made his first plate appearances in Thursday's game since he was beaned on Sept. 6 at Atlanta and suffered a perforated eardrum. Owings wore a new larger helmet that was recently unveiled by Rawlings. ... Triple-A Louisville manager Rick Sweet, currently on the big league coaching staff for the final week, will manage the Aguilas team during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Tickets
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• Saturday: Reds (Johnny Cueto, 10-11, 4.35) vs. Pirates (Zach Duke, 11-15, 3.94), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Reds (Homer Bailey, 7-5, 4.78) vs. Pirates (Kevin Hart, 4-9, 5.44), 1:10 p.m. ET
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
