Reds 3 Cubs 1

Major League Baseball
Home Team: Cincinnati Reds (M. Leake)
Visiting Team: Chicago Cubs (T. Gorzelanny)
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Game Time: 1:10 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: None

Game Story | Official Box Score

This was kind of a different experience. Going to the game was, more or less, a spur-of-the-moment decision. I bought my ticket online around 10:20 a.m. and hit the road at 11:00. I took nothing with me: no glove, no camera, no sunscreen. I regret that last one. I thought my seat would be in the shade, for at least part of the game, but it was not. I can feel the heat building in my sun-pinkened arms and face already.

The main reason I decided to go was to see the professional debut of Reds starter Mike Leake, their first-round draft pick last year. He became a rare player in Major League history (the first pitcher since 1988) by playing his first big-league game without spending any time in the minor leagues. That being the case, I thought it would be fun to be in the stands for such an event, and to see this young phenom for myself.

I was not disappointed. At first, it looked like it was going to be a disaster - after throwing a first-pitch strike, he proceeded to walk the leadoff hitter on the following four pitches. A double and another walk left the bases loaded for the Cubs with no one out in the first inning. But Leake got out of the inning without allowing any runs, and that set the tone for the day. He ended up walking seven guys before his day was done, but he only gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings. You could definitely tell he was tired just before he was taken out, but the bullpen was able to hold down the fort while the Reds scored some runs and got the win. Leake didn't get credit for it, but there's no doubt that he had a huge hand in the victory.

He had two hits at the plate, too.