Game 5: Harang pitches game of the year

Reds 2, Pirates 0

Aaron Harang: Complete game shutout, 3 H, 9 K. The man was automatic today. Threw 80 strikes in 108 pitches. There was no hope for the Pirates. Harang lived low and on the corners all day. The best I've seen Harang look in two years. Combined with a gritty Opening Day performance against the Mets, you have to feel good about our #1.

The Lineup: Wow. I never thought I'd see Taveras and Dickerson at the top of the order for an entire game. And it was fun to watch.

Willy Taveras: 2-3, 2B, SB, R. He's already won us over.

Chris Dickerson: 1-2, 2 BB. This guy should be in left everyday. You have to love his presence at the plate--the complete opposite of Jay Bruce. Dickerson also mimics a gazelle in left field. And did you see the kid take an extra base on his single when the throw went home. He flew.

Brandon Phillips: His home run in the first proved to be the game winner. But why does he check swing on every pitch? I've never seen a non-Latin player so unwillingly take a ball. I can't believe he's walked 5 times in 5 games.

Jay Bruce--Left his bat in Sarasota. His infield hit late in the game saved himself from a golden sombrero. At least he hustled and beat the throw to first. Why don't more players actually try doing that...you know, running it out?

RISP, less than 2 outs--I've never seen a team worse at moving runners. We should have scored at least 5 runs today. Not a good sign.

Bottom third of the order--35 ABs. 1 Hit. Jeff Keppinger has 4 hits in 7 ABs in Houston.

Quote of the Game--Chris Welsh. "Aaron Harang is always going to throw strikes, except for those days he doesn't have it."

Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez--Turned the best double play against the Reds you will see this year.

Johnny Cueto, sloppy bastard--I forgot to mention this yesterday, but if you didn't see the TV broadcast, you missed Johnny Cueto blow a mean snot rocket as he trotted off the field, and then he immediately brought his hand to his face as if the snot rocket got caught somewhere. The next inning, they showed Johnny in the dugout taking a handful of sunflowers and shlopping them in the direction of his mouth, half of which hit off his face and fell on his lap and to the ground. The other half that made it into the mouth were chomped and spit out within a second. Many sunflowers remained stuck around his maw.

This will be the best pitching outing of the year. At least we split with Pitt. With Milwaukee coming up, it's time to make an early statement. Volquez vs. Gallardo will be a dandy.