There is no better example of winning by losing than LaRosa's Pizzerias.
The Cincinnati chain sponsors a promotion at Reds home games, and when the team strikes out at least 11 opposing hitters, fans at the game can redeem their ticket stub for a free pizza. In 81 home games last season, Reds pitchers tallied 11 strikeouts just 13 times. In 15 home games thus far in 2013, the team has reached the mark seven times.
The Reds lead the National League with 195 strikeouts through 21 games.
And even though LaRosa's has given away more than $100,000 in free pies, management swears it's a win-win.
"The real reason to do this is to underscore awareness of our brand and get people to visit," Pete Buscani, LaRosa's executive vice president for marketing, told WLWT. "This is the best promotion we've done in a long time."
Fans have one week to redeem their prize, which is an eight-inch pizza with their choice of any four toppings. Normally the dish sells for $6.79.
Cincinnati pitchers have tallied at least 10 strikeouts in each of the Reds' past six games. That's the first time in the team's modern history that it has accomplished that feat. While Cincinnati's pitchers certainly deserve a lot of credit, the Reds have faced some weak opponents recently. Both the Cubs and the Phillies, who've visited the Great American Ball Park in the past two week, rank in the top five in the National League in terms of strikeouts.
