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The Cincinnati Reds swept the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and their $300-million payroll with a 4-1 win this Memorial Day weekend.
A word about this photo, which we use to celebrate important Reds sweeps.
I took it on a different Sunday, a typical hot, humid Cincinnati September night more than ten years ago. The game had been on national television, with Clayton Kershaw pitching for the Dodgers, who had an 11-game lead in the NL West. Homer Bailey, who had thrown his second no-hitter a couple months before, started for the Reds.
The Reds won that night 3-2 on a dramatic walk-off double by Ryan Hanigan. Jay Bruce had hit two solo home runs off Kershaw, the first time the future Hall of Famer had surrendered two homers to the same left-handed batter in a single game. Bailey (7 IP, 2ER, 0BB, 9K) had out-pitched Kershaw. Hanigan’s double down the left field line in the 9th knocked in Zach Cozart, who had singled. Cozart scored all the way from first.
It was a thrilling moment. One of the most exciting I’ve experienced at the park.
The Johnny Bench statue had been dedicated two years before. Elated, the crowd continued to cheer, as we bounced out of the stadium. In a brilliant moment of impulse, another Reds fan stuck that broom into Bench’s hand. Just as I walked by.
