Reds are out.

So the Central Division winners got swept by an outstanding pitching crew. Last night, the Reds ended the run towards a World Series going down 7-4.

"Key Plays

• In the first inning, Placido Polanco hit a one out single off of Johnny Cueto.  One out later, Ryan Howard also singled and Polanco moved to third on the play, totally stealing Cincinnati's move.  It's okay; they weren't using it.  Jayson Werth then hit a ground ball right to Orlando Cabrera.  Cabrera seemed to have reinjured his side in Game 2 and was thought to miss the rest of the series.  He deemed himself fit to play this afternoon, but on this instance, threw the ball high and wide of first base, pulling Joey Votto off the bag and allowing Polanco to score.  Phillies lead, 1-0.
• Drew Stubbs singled to lead off the Reds half of the first inning.  Brandon Phillips then hit a deep drive to center, but Shane Victorino made a nice running, over the shoulder catch.  Joey Votto then grounded out to the pitcher and Scott Rolen struck out looking.
• In the fifth inning, with two outs, Chase Utley hit a deep fly ball to center field.  Drew Stubbs tracked it back to the wall, and leapt, hoping to bring it back in the yard and rob that cheater Chutley of a home run.  Instead, in a move that will have Dusty Baker flashing back to the Steve Bartman game, a Cincinnati fan tried to catch the ball with their glove, knocking it away from Stubbs.  The umpires reviewed the play, but it was clearly a home run.  Still, if there was an emblematic play that signaled that Cincinnati is not quite ready for the postseason, that was it.  Phillies lead, 2-0.
• The Reds were unable to generate much offense at all against Cole Hamels, which is not entirely surprising.  Down to their final chance in the ninth inning, Brandon Phillips got the region's hopes raised with a sharply hit ball that went under the glove of Placido Polanco for a leadoff single.  Joey Votto came to the plate, hoping to shake off a disappointing series and act the way MVPs do.  Instead, he grounded into a soul-crushing double play.  Scott Rolen then struck out for the billionth time and the season was over."

 - Red Reporter