Game Recap #28 Cincinnati Reds @ San Diego Padres

On December 17th, 2011, the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds negotiated and made a blockbuster trade in the early parts of the trading off season. Heading to Cincinnati was one pitcher, Mat Latos, a well-regarded right-hander that the Padres were not absolutely pleased with trading. Heading from Cincinnati to San Diego were four players. The well-established Edinson Volquez, a right handed pitcher who had a promising early few years but was caught up in an illegal substance suspension was the biggest asset. Another big player, Yonder Alonso, was never given a shot by the Reds at first base, considering having all-star stud Joey Votto manning the position. Two minor league players, catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-handed pitcher Brad Boxberger also came over in the deal. Grandal would not play in the majors for Cincinnati for the same reason as Alonso: Devin Mesoraco had control over the catcher position. As for Boxberger, he is the lone of the players in the deal to not see notable time in the majors. This weekend, the players have one of their infrequent reunions with their old teams. At this point in 2012, Grandal has displaced Nick Hundley as Padres catcher, Alonso frequently mans first base for the Padres, and Volquez has established himself as a veteran presence in the rotation as well as the staff ace. Latos hasn't been quite as good for the Reds, but he has been good enough to keep them strong in the National League Central. We did miss the real reunion game by just a day, as on Thursday Latos and Volquez took the mound, but today we saw Bronson Arroyo pitch for Cincinnati against Kip Wells for San Diego. Cincinnati was able to get an early lead as lead off rookie shortstop Zack Cozart took the sixth pitch from Wells over the fence in left field after working to a full count. Wells continued to struggle, depositing hits throughout the field in all but the second and sixth innings (although he walked two in the second). Wells was finally punished for the lack of control in the seventh inning, walking Todd Frazier before the next batter, Ryan Hanigan, homered over to left field to extend the lead. Wells was pulled, turning the ball over to Brad Brach, and leaving with a final line of six innings, seven hits and three walks to produce three earned runs, alongside two strikeouts. Brach gave up a Cozart double and wild pitch before being pulled for Alex Hinshaw, who walked Joey Votto, and was replaced by Miles Mikolas who finished off the inning. Mikolas was sent out to work the eighth inning, but he struggled here, allowing a Jay Bruce double and a two-run Frazier home run to put the game a little farther away before finishing the inning. Ross Ohlendorf was called by San Diego to take the mound in the ninth inning, and like many before him, struggled with the pitching, giving up consecutive doubles to Drew Stubbs and Votto, who scored Stubbs with his hit. This made it 6-0, and as Arroyo went out to finish his shutout in the ninth inning, he allowed just one more hit, finishing the day with a complete nine inning shutout, with just three hits and a walk to go with eight strikeouts in what may be the pitching performance of the trip. Wells was given the loss.