Just got back a little while ago from RFK and thought I would give my observations of the game.
This will most likely be the only game I will be able to see the Reds play in person but it was a good one. I had a ticket for a seat in the CF upper deck but sat in the 316 section which is just above field level behind home plate. You can't beat a seat that is normally $25 when you paid only $7 for it.
Bronson Arroyo was sensational! He changed speeds on his pitches and kept the Nats off balance all day. Only two or three hard hit balls and the only hit was a serve into right field by Zimmerman. It helped too that Robinson played his B team today.No Guillen or Vidro but I think Arroyo would have shut them down anyway. What a pickup BA has been!
The Home Run by Ross was a high majestic shot into the left filed seats. No doubt at all about it. Brandon Phillips actually had three and 0 counts two straight ab's. But still the elusive walks stays away. Freel is great in CF! One outstanding catch in the 7th,IIRC. It was as good a catch as you will ever see. He came from left center to right center to snag it. The Nats crowd gave him a nice ovation for his efforts. Freel has got to be in CF everyday when Griffey gets back. The Reds need to do whatever it takes to talk Dunn into playing 1b. The Reds with an infield of Dunn,Phillips,Lopez and EdE and an outfield of Griffey,Freel and Kearns along with the catching tandem is as good and solid of a lineup the Reds have had in quite sometime,IMO.
Mercker was bigtime PO'd when he was taken out. I assume at himself. He went 3-2 to every batter he faced and was up to 35 pitches! He stomped off the mound and went straight down the tunnel. A couple of guys stuck their hand out but he went right past them.
This was smallest crowd I was ever a part of at RFK. Only 19,000 announced attendance but was more like 14 or 15,000. Made it real easy getting out of the stadium and to the metro. The trains were not even packed like last year after a game. Channel 9 in DC is reporting that the Lerner Group will be the new owners but MLB is denying the report.
Any day at the old ballpark is a great day and even more so when the Reds win!