National League Central week in review: 5/2/14 – 5/8/14

May 7, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher J.J. Hoover (60) pitches during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

Cincinnati Reds

Last week: 2-3 (beat Milwaukee 2 of 3, dropped both games in Boston)

Those two games the Reds dropped at Fenway were both of the one-run variety and both by a final of 4-3. The once vaunted bullpen took the L in both. The first game was a 12-inning affair, so it was natural a guy in the ‘pen would be noted as the loser. The second game was different.

J.J. Hoover had been on a mini roll (3.1 IP with no runs allowed over two games). Wednesday night, he faced four Boston hitters and didn’t retire a one. A pair of walks and a pair of hits ended his night.

For this season, Hoover has appeared in 12 games. He has allowed a run in exactly half of those outings. Could explain that 9.31 ERA. So would surrendering three home runs in only 9.2 innings of work. Hoover served up only six homers all last season (66 IP).

And the Cuban Missile may be returning soon. It was initially thought he could return tonight. Not so…

What’s another day. Not like Jonathan Broxton hasn’t been faring well in the closer’s role.

Oh, and there’s been another lineup switch. Might be just only for tonight’s game, but manager Bryan Price has Joey Votto batting cleanup. Brayan Pena is in the 2-hole.

This week’s schedule: Colorado (3), off Monday, San Diego (3)