"The Reds couldn't afford a serious false step by starter Edinson Volquez (2-1) in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves.

He had to give them at least a good five innings, get the ball to the bullpen without too many runs to go along with it, and give the middle and short men a fighting chance.

It was a tall order, judging from Volquez's last two outings. His first start in the majors last month since Tommy John surgery had been scintillating - nothing short of miraculous in light of the year-and-a-half it takes most elbow-ligament replacement hurlers to return to pre-injury form.

But the last two starts after that first start served to remind everybody that Volquez is still very much a work-in- progress, not exactly what you want in a pennant race.

On Aug. 1 - the opening act in the 31-day month known as baseball's "Dog Days" - you don't want to run any dogs out there. Not when you're playing in front of a sellout crowd against a first-place team with every bit as much on the line as you.

Well, Volquez was no dog against the Braves. He gave the Reds exactly what they needed - five innings, three hits, one earned run and six strikeouts - which is a heck of a line until you get to the walks.

Count 'em: five - two to leadoff man Brooks Conrad, who somehow managed to not score.

All those walks made for a lot of pitches (96) and a manager who probably could have used that big vat of Rolaids that Pete Rose used to keep on his office desk.

But the result was enough.

"Five innings, pick 'em up," said Volquez. "It was good because we won the series - two out of three. It's what we were looking for. Win the game and stay close to St. Louis."

Volquez said he's "starting to feel more like myself.""