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Cincinnati Reds News

Jay Bruce returns for Reds after day of rest
May 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Jay Bruce and his ailing bat returned to the Reds lineup Saturday night, after Bruce was given a rest Friday. Bruce entered Saturday in an 0-for-14 skid and had gone 1-for-31 since mid-May. The slump dropped Bruce's batting average from .305 to .252, and Bruce said he benefited from resting Friday. "It takes your mind off things a little bit," Bruce said. "I can't get too caught up in what's happened the last week or the last month. I have to think about today." Reds manager Dusty Baker told Bruce to basically relax and do nothing Friday. "I didn't hit at all," Bruce said. "I played infield a little bit (during batting practice), just messed around. I just tried to take in the off-day"
Aroldis Chapman remains mystery off the field
May 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"In the midst of the best stretch of his professional career, Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman had a miserable week. On the field, the man with the dazzling fastball was finally named the closer for his red-hot team. He picked up saves against the Yankees and the Braves and then a win. Remarkably, he has not allowed a single earned run all season. Off the field, things were not so good. At 12:42 a.m. Monday, Chapman was pulled over for allegedly driving 93 miles per hour in Grove City, just south of Columbus. The officer arrested him after he discovered Chapman had a suspended Kentucky driver's license, according to a police report. It's at least the fourth time Chapman has been caught speeding"
Reds pound Colorado Rockies, 10-3
May 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds reached their 2012 season peak Saturday night, but Cincinnati players aren't quite ready to ponder what suit they might wear to a Fountain Square postseason celebration. Chris Heisey and Ryan Ludwick each hit three-run homers and Devin Mesoraco also homered in a 10-3 rout of Colorado, giving the Reds a season-high 1 ½-game lead in the National League Central division. The Reds picked up a game on St. Louis, which lost 4-0 to Philadelphia. The Reds have won seven of their last eight games, and memories of a dismal 4-8 start have about faded. How about the recent surge? "It really doesn't mean much right now," Ludwick said. "It's early. I think everybody knows in here that we've got"
Devin Mesoraco is enjoying Reds' winning
May 26
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds manager Dusty Baker had some advice for rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco: Quit counting. It was hard for Mesoraco to avoid it. The Reds went 0-5 in his first five starts and 1-9 in his first 10. "We talked about it," Mesoraco said. "It seemed like every game I was back there we were losing. There's a lot of different factors. I think in the 10 games, we scored like 20 runs or something crazy. "The name of the game is winning, especially up here. It's completely different than the minor leagues. In the minor leagues, you want to do well. Up here, if you're winning, everybody's going to be happy. Everybody's going to keep their job. I took it hard because I do want to win. I feel like when"
Rockies end Reds' six-game win streak
May 26
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds' six-game winning streak was built upon quality starting pitching. So it's fitting that ended it on a night when the starter fell well short of quality. The Colorado Rockies roughed up Johnny Cueto to the tune of four runs and a career-high 11 hits over 42/3 innings, as the Reds fell 6-3 Friday night before a crowd of 29,597 at Great American Ball Park. Cueto had his second bad outing in the three starts. Cueto pitched seven innings to beat the New York Yankees his last time out, but the start before that he allowed six runs in four innings at Atlanta. He struck out three and walked two Friday. After a 1-2-3, 13-pitch first inning, everything was a struggle for Cueto. The Rockies"
Slumping Braves get slammed and swept at Cincinnati
May 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Randall Delgado had already given up two grand slams this season including one last weekend, and the Braves weren't going to risk him giving up a third at the most homer-friendly ballpark in the National League. After the Cincinnati Reds loaded the bases against Delgado with one out in the sixth inning Thursday, the Braves brought in Kris Medlen to face Devin Mesoraco. To say the move backfired would be a major understatement. Mesoraco crushed the third pitch from Medlen, driving it into the second deck of the left-field seats for a grand slam that sent the Reds to a 6-3 win and series sweep of the Braves at Great American Ball Park, their first four-game sweep over Atlanta in more than 20"
Mesoraco's grand slam helps Reds sweep Braves
May 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds manager Dusty Baker was saying after Wednesday's victory that a different Red was playing the role of hero each night. Thursday's hero: Devin Mesoraco. His grand slam turned the game around and sent the Reds to their sixth straight victory, 6-3, over the Atlanta Braves before a crowd of 23,312 at Great American Ball Park. "It was my turn tonight," Mesoraco said. "But everyone else has been stepping up as well.""
Reds' Walk-off homer hands Braves their third straight loss
May 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"After Tommy Hanson's strong start and Eric O'Flaherty's nifty escape in the eighth inning, the Reds ended the drama quickly in the ninth inning against Braves reliever Cristhian Martinez. Todd Frazier hit a walk-off homer with one out in the ninth to give Cincinnati a 2-1 win against the Braves, who have lost four out of their past five, including all of the first three games of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park. The Braves have scored just nine runs in five games and five runs in the first three games at the most hitter-friendly ballpark in the National League."
Walk-off homer gives Reds 2-1 win over slumping Braves
May 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"After Tommy Hanson's strong start and Eric O'Flaherty's nifty escape in the eighth inning, the Reds ended the drama quickly in the ninth inning against Braves reliever Cristhian Martinez. Todd Frazier hit a walk-off homer with one out in the ninth to give Cincinnati a 2-1 win against the Braves, who have lost four out of their past five, including all of the first three games of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park. The Braves have scored just nine runs in five games and five runs in the first three games at the most hitter-friendly ballpark in the National League."
Reds win 2-1 on Frazier walk-off
May 24
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Todd Frazier still had his doubts as he headed toward first base if the ball would clear the wall. "I knew I had a lot of it," Frazier said. "At the same time, you're hoping you have a lot more than that. I didn't get all of it. Watching it round first, it just got over. Fine with me." Frazier's drive did, indeed, just make if it out. But a 355-foot home run is still a home run. And Frazier's shot with one out in the ninth lifted the Reds to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves before a crowd of 20,411 at Great American Ball Park. The victory was a season-high fifth straight for the Reds, putting them five games over .500 for the first time this year. It was first walk-off home run of the"
Reds hit three homers off Beachy in 4-3 win over Braves
May 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"If it wasn't too surprising when the Reds hit four home runs off the Braves' Mike Minor on Monday, it was another matter when they hit three Tuesday night off Brandon Beachy. After allowing only one home run in his previous 72 innings, Beachy gave up a career-high three homers in the first four innings of a 4-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Brandon Phillips took him deep twice. Braves leadoff man Michael Bourn had the first two-homer game of his career, but couldn't fully enjoy it because his solo shots in the first and eighth innings weren't enough to prevent Atlanta's third loss in four games and fifth in nine games. "It's my first time ever doing it," said Bourn, who"
Masset may throw this week, not Bray
May 23
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Nick Masset (shoulder) said Tuesday he will try to resume throwing sometime this week. The right-handed reliever has been on the disabled list all year and has not thrown extensively since around mid-March. "I'm starting to feel really good," Masset said Tuesday. "My strength is back. My mobility's there." Masset was to do some testing Tuesday with Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek and come up with a plan. Masset has been doing some work with his strengthening and flexibility. "Officially, I can say that I will be trying to throw this week to see where I'm at, probably later in the week," Masset said. "It feels like I'm almost completely healed. Hopefully I'll be back competing here"
Cincinnati Reds' trio defies odds with back-to-back-to-back feat
May 23
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist John Erardi
"A day after the buzz had subsided, the afterglow remained. In Monday night's game against the Braves, Reds pitcher Mike Leake, shortstop Zack Cozart and center fielder Drew Stubbs hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. The last time the pitcher, leadoff and 2-hole batter hit consecutive home runs in a major league game was 2003, when former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood started things off, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. There was only about a 3-in-100,000 chance of it happening again Monday – that is, the pitcher, leadoff and 2-hole batter going deep in consecutive at-bats -- said Cincinnati math guru James Deddens. We will take Prof. Deddens' word for it. He has a doctorate in pure"
Aroldis Chapman dials it up on officers' radar guns
May 23
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The word "speed" would relate to "Aroldis Chapman" in a word association game – and now not only for his fastball. The 24-year-old Cuban native – with the fastest recorded pitch in Major League history at 105 mph – was arrested early Monday morning outside of Columbus for driving 93 mph on Interstate 71. It's at least the fourth time he's been caught speeding since he was issued a Kentucky driver's license two years ago. His first ticket was issued in August 2010 in Spencer County, Ky. Then he got another in May 2011 in Gallatin County, Ky., according to his record, provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet."
Cincinnati Reds edge Braves for fourth consecutive win
May 23
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Brandon Phillips is an All-Star and Mat Latos has All-Star stuff. Reds fans have seen only glimpses of each player's greatness this year, but Tuesday night brought out their best. Phillips hit two homers and Latos pitched seven strong innings as the surging Reds beat Atlanta 4-3 before 26,438 fans at Great American Ball Park. Zack Cozart also homered as the Reds extended their winning streak to four games, a season high. The Reds (23-19) entered Tuesday one-half game behind NL Central leader St. Louis. The Reds are four games above .500 for the first time this year."
Reds hit homers to down Braves, 4-1
May 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The other day someone asked Dusty Baker about his offense and its reliance on the home run. "I'd like to see some more long balls to tell you the truth," Baker said. Request granted. The Reds homered four times Monday night to support Mike Leake's gem in a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves before a crowd of 17,606 (plus 5,548 Kid Glove tickets) at Great American Ball Park. The Reds move to three games over .500 for the first time all year at 22-19."
Scott Rolen better, but not swinging
May 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Scott Rolen's left shoulder is better but not good enough to resume swinging the bat. Rolen did get a cortisone shot to the affected area a week ago. "I still have some knots and spasms," Rolen said. "The idea was to first and foremost rest and work on it and unravel it. The fatigue and tightness build up when you're compensating. I'm still in phase. I think Dr. (Tim) Kremchek called it active rest, which is good oxymoron. It's more therapy stuff. "Active rest means don't swing. I'm still in that stage now." Rolen planned to take some ground balls and run Monday. Rolen has no timetable as to when he might begin swinging. "I have a little therapy work ahead," Rolen said."
Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman arrested after traffic stop
May 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman was arrested after he was caught driving 93 miles per hour in Grove City early Monday, according to police. Police said Chapman, 24, was pulled over for speeding in a black 2010 Mercedes S63 on Interstate 71 North near Interstate 270 at about 12:42 a.m. Chapman was arrested after the officer discovered he had a suspended Kentucky driver's license, according to a police report."
Same fan catches Leake, Cozart homers
May 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The odds of catching not one but two home-run balls must be astronomical, but Reds fan Caleb Lloyd was the happy recipient of consecutive Cincinnati homers Monday night. The 20-year-old Lloyd, a junior soccer player at Thomas More College, gathered the home-run balls that were launched on consecutive at-bats by Mike Leake and Zack Cozart in the fourth inning against Atlanta starter Mike Minor. Both homers went to almost the same spot where Lloyd was sitting in the stands in left field. "The first one I actually barehanded, " Lloyd said. "It hit my hand and I didn't expect to actually catch it. I caught it, and then it bounced off the palm of my hand and I reached out and grabbed it. It"
Minor blasted for four homers in Braves' 4-1 loss to Reds
May 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"It had the potential for a combustible mix. The Braves sent recently homer-plagued Mike Minor to start Monday's series opener against the Reds at Great American Ball Park, sometimes referred to as Great American Small Park. The potential was fully realized. Combustion came in the form of four solo home runs off Minor, including three in a row with two out in the fourth inning of a 4-1 series-opening Reds win. "I don't think it was the ballpark," Minor said. "The pitches were up. All of them were up." And Mondays remained down for the Braves. They are 0-7 with a total of 12 runs scored on Mondays, while every other day of the week is fine. (They are 26-10 and the league's highest-scoring"
Braves' Francisco homers in first at-bat back at old home park
May 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Welcome home, Juan. Boooooo. Filling in for Chipper Jones on Monday, Braves third baseman Juan Francisco homered in his first at-bat back at his old home ballpark in Cincinnati. The second-inning solo shot tied the score at 1-all against his former team, and plenty of Reds fans booed as Francisco took a rather leisurely trot around the bases. The former Reds corner-infield prospect was traded to Atlanta on the last weekend of spring training. Francisco didn't get much playing time in Cincinnati with Joey Votto and Scott Rolen on the infield corners."
Aroldis Chapman should start for Reds
May 21
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist Paul Daugherty
"Maybe Aroldis Chapman can start, go six innings, take a breather in the 7th, set himself up in the 8th and save his own win in the 9th. That would answer some questions. Meantime, it's clearer than ever that the Reds don't know what to do with their Missile. It's equally clear that for now, it doesn't matter. Start him? That's why he was hired in January 2010. That's what he has been groomed to do, theoretically, even as he has done everything but. The Big Man didn't welcome Chapman into his wallet so the Cuban defector could pitch the 7th and/or 8th innings. Until Sunday, Chapman was the best setup man in the game. Using him that way was like displaying the Hope Diamond in a coal bin."
Chapman closer plan is day-by-day
May 21
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Before Sunday's game, Reds manager Dusty Baker said Aroldis Chapman was the club's new closer. But he wasn't sure if he was available to pitch Sunday. Then Baker talked to Chapman. "He said he was fine," Baker said. "My inclination was not to use him before we asked him. We go on an honor program here. Let us know if you're not right, you're tired or achy or whatever. This is his time. We've got a long way to go. "August and September might be a different scenario. Right now, we're trying to get these guys strong through the whole season." Chapman pitched a relatively easy ninth to record the save in the Reds' 5-2 win over the New York Yankees. He didn't allowed a hit or walk a batter. But"
Reds rally past Sabathia, Yankees to win series
May 21
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"When Raul Ibanez's two-run home run left the yard in the sixth inning, it looked as if the Reds were headed for a loss. New York left-hander CC Sabathia was dominant. He had a two-run lead. The Reds have been offensively challenged since Opening Day. But not on this day. The Reds answered the Yankees' two runs immediately and went on to a 5-2 victory before a crowd of 45,622 at Yankee Stadium. With the win, the Reds won the series and finished the road trip 4-3. "Great road trip," said Ryan Ludwick, who started the answering rally and drove in three runs on the day. "The Yankees have the best record in interleague play since it started. To come into their house and take two of three, job"
Mike Costanzo's bad day improves with first Major League hit
May 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Mike Costanzo's first start as major leaguer did not start well. Costanzo struck out swinging in his first two at-bats. It got better from there. He singled in the sixth for his first big league hit. He hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth. That run turned out to be the winning run in the Reds' 6-5 victory over the Yankees. "It didn't start out like I wanted it," he said. "But I ended up helping my team win in Yankee Stadium. It's an unbelievable feeling." Costanzo is from Philadelphia. He had 50 friends and family in the crowd. "They probably can't wait to see me right now," he said. Costanzo, 28, is two years removed from playing independent play after Baltimore released him when he refused"
Aroldis Chapman to close for Reds?
May 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"We may see a change in the closer spot for the Reds. After Saturday's 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees, in which closer Sean Marshall allowed two runs on four hits in the ninth, Reds manager Dusty Baker said Aroldis Chapman may move to the role. "He's been so good in the eighth," Baker said. "Like I said, you've got to graduate to that position. Who knows - maybe graduation time is here? We're got to discuss it, talk about it. Matter of fact we already talked to him about it. "Marsh is a team man. That's not what he signed up to be. He was forced into it. He was going to be our set-up man in the eighth with (Logan) Ondrusek and (Nick) Masset. (Ryan) Madson was going to close. We had"
Reds hang on to beat Yankees
May 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"What looked like a relatively easy day at the ball yard for the Reds was suddenly one solid hit from becoming a disaster. The three-run lead was down to one. The New York Yankees had runners at first and second with one out. Due up: Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson. If Reds manager Dusty Baker was going to pull Sean Marshall, he was going to have to go deep into the bullpen. The Reds had already used Aroldis Chapman and Logan Ondrusek. Jose Arredondo got the call. Two ground balls and about 10,000 heartbeats later, the Reds had a 6-5 victory before a crowd of 45,302 on a gorgeous day at Yankee Stadium. And Arredondo had his first save in the majors. "I could have done without the drama,""
Reds considering moving Chapman to closer
May 19
MLB.com
 
"There could be a change coming in the Reds' closer role, with manager Dusty Baker hinting late Saturday afternoon that he might turn from Sean Marshall to Aroldis Chapman. There was bumpy ending to Cincinnati's 6-5 victory over the Yankees. For the second time in 10 days, Marshall could not complete a save and needed to be bailed out. "Like I've said before, you've got to graduate to that position," Baker said of Chapman. "Who knows? Maybe graduation time is here. We've got to talk about it. As a matter of fact, I've already talked to him about it. We'll see. Marshall is a team man. It's not what he signed up for. He was forced into it. He signed up to be our setup man in the eighth.""
Yankees blank Reds, 4-0
May 19
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Andy Pettitte, fresh out of retirement, looked like he had plenty of life left in his arm. The Reds' bats have a way of doing that. Pettitte pitched eight shutout innings to beat the Reds 4-0 before a crowd of 42,015 at Yankee Stadium. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out nine. He did not allow a runner to advance to second after the first inning. It was the first time the Reds have been shut out this season. "We've got young hitters and he's an experienced pitcher," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He must have been doing something real good when he was retired. He looked as sharp as I've ever seen him." Bronson Arroyo matched him pretty well until the eighth. Arroyo gave up a"
Latos goes only five innings, again
May 18
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Mat Latos was the victim of a blown save Thursday. But Latos put the bullpen in a tough spot. He did not retire a batter in the sixth inning. His day was done when the first two batters reached. Latos has gone only five innings in each of his last two starts. He needed 109 and 100 pitches to get through five. "I usually can get six, seven innings," Latos said. "It's just the way it's been going for me lately. Sometimes, I'm not executing my pitches which gets my pitch count up. Sometimes, I feel like we fall in love with the same pitch over and over. Guys battle. That's just the way it's been going." Latos did not allow a run over the first four innings. He gave up two runs in the fifth."
Reds' bullpen collapses in loss to Mets
May 18
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reliever Logan Ondrusek was talking about his performance, but he pretty much summed up the Reds day as well. "It wasn't pretty – that's for sure," Ondrusek said. For sure. The Reds 9-4 loss to the New York Mets Thursday before a crowd 29,943 at Citi Field in the finale of the two-game series was probably the ugliest of the year. The Reds blew a 4-0, made two errors and squander a couple of fat scoring chance in the sixth and seventh. And, oh yeah, Aroldis Chapman and Ordrusek gave up runs. That's the first time that's happened this year. "We didn't play well the last five innings," Red manager Dusty Baker said. The Reds had a hard time solving New York knuckleballer R.A. Dickey early. But"
Red-hot Wright sparks an Amazin' rally
May 18
New York Post
 
"Every time these Mets get knocked down, they find a way to get back up off the mat. And as usual, it was David Wright who picked them up yesterday. With the Mets staring at a third straight loss, Wright — suffering from flu symptoms — led a rally that turned a four-run deficit into a 9-4 come-from-behind victory over the Reds. He showed leadership Tuesday by wanting to stay in the game for any reprisal the Brewers chose to mete out after D.J. Carrasco beaned Ryan Braun. And he showed it again yesterday by playing sick, working walks when the Reds didn't pitch to him and punishing them when they did. He scored the tying run in the seventh and drove in the go-ahead run in the five-run"
Johnson's bunt tops Mets hit parade
May 18
New York Post
 
"Even heroes need help. Before David Wright could add another page to what R.A. Dickey described as a "mythical" season, Rob Johnson gave the star the opportunity in the Mets' 9-4 comeback win over the Reds Thursday at Citi Field. Johnson, the reserve catcher who has been dealing with a sore left thumb, replaced Mike Nickeas in the eighth inning. He came to the plate later that inning after the Mets had fought back from a 4-0 deficit. Before the game, manager Terry Collins said the catcher was still having trouble gripping the bat. But the Reds didn't know that."
Interleague Play set to add intrigue to season
May 18
MLB.com
 
"When Jeff Samardzija throws the first pitch for the Cubs in their Friday afternoon game against the White Sox at Wrigley Field, it will signify a powerful and memorable moment for Major League Baseball in 2012: the return of Interleague Play. For the 16th consecutive season, the American League and National League will square off in regular-season games all over the country, giving fans a limited look at heated crosstown rivalries, legendary but long-dormant matchups that recall old postseason barn-burners, and strategic maneuverings that can only make an already compelling season more intriguing. Starting on Friday with the lid-lifter on the North Side of the Windy City, Interleague Play"
Down early, Mets rise up late to upend Reds
May 17
MLB.com
 
"Somehow, the Mets' charmed run at home can continue. New York appeared to be on the verge of its first losing homestand of the season on Thursday, but the Mets forged a five-run rally in the eighth inning to take their first advantage and earn a 9-4 victory over Cincinnati. New York scored nine unanswered runs Thursday, a result keyed by another standout performance from third baseman David Wright. Wright reached base five times Thursday and registered his sixth game-winning RBI of the season -- tied for most in the Majors -- on a double in the eighth inning."
Leake, Frazier deliver for Reds
May 17
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Two players who admitted that they were feeling the pressure came through under pressure for the Reds Wednesday night in a huge way. Mike Leake pitched his best game of the year. That put the Reds in a position to win. Todd Frazier had his best night of the year at the plate. That allowed the offense to come back and seal the deal in a 6-3 victory over the New York Mets before a crowd of 22,659 at Citi Field. Leake knew his rotation spot was in jeopardy. "Of course," he said. "I felt like I needed to do something. I was kind of a hole in the rotation. It was a matter of time before I was going to come around. I need to string a few together. I'm not going to put pressure on myself to do"
Baker: Chapman where he's needed
May 17
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"With the Reds in New York, the subject of what lies in the future for left-hander Aroldis Chapman came up. Reds manager Dusty Baker said the plan remains the same: Chapman will start in the future – but it sounded like not in the immediate future. "Someday, yeah," Baker said. "But right now, we need him in the 'pen. We lost (Ryan) Madson. We lost (Bill) Bray. If he wasn't in the position he's in, we wouldn't be in the position we're in. This guy hasn't given up a run. He's gotten people out of trouble. He's won games. "Imagine where we'd be without him in this role right now. Plus, he can't be everything. There's people who want him to start. There's people who want him to close. There's"
Mets allow one-run lead to slip away in 8th inning
May 17
New York Daily News
 
"D.J. Carrasco's day at work began with a moment of encouragement from his boss. Sitting at his locker Wednesday afternoon, wondering if the Mets were angry with him for plunking Ryan Braun the night before, Carrasco was glad when Terry Collins approached, patted him on the shoulder, and offered a few kind words. About nine hours later, Carrasco was essentially fired. Ejected from one game and the goat of another, this one a 6-3 loss to Cincinnati, the reliever learned he had been designated for assignment."
Relievers cost the Amazin's another victory
May 17
New York Post
 
"Frank Francisco's patent on arson expired last night, just in time for Jon Rauch to reach for the matches and pass them to D.J. Carrasco. With a shameful bullpen performance, the Mets again mugged Johan Santana and were left wondering whom they can trust in the late innings. This after the Reds scored four runs in the eighth and sent the Mets to their third loss in four games, 6-3 at Citi Field. The knockout punch was Todd Frazier's two-run homer against Carrasco, a night after the veteran reliever was ejected for drilling Milwaukee's Ryan Braun following Rickie Weeks' home run. After last night's fiasco, Carrasco was designated for assignment and replaced by lefty reliever Robert Carson,"
Braves beat Cueto, get even with Reds
May 16
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Johnny Cueto had been so good this year that his struggles Tuesday night a bit shocking. Not to Cueto. "It's part of the game," he said through a translator. "I'm not a robot." Cueto (4-1) took his first loss of the season as the Reds fell to the Atlanta Braves 6-2 before a crowd of 21,530 at Turner Field. The Reds' split the two-game series here. They flew to New York after the game where they open a two-game series tonight."
Pete Rose to do one-man show at Belterra
May 16
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Pete Rose hits the live stage Friday night at Belterra Casino Resort in what is basically a one-man show billed in various places on the internet as "An Evening With Pete Rose," or "4,192 -- The Making of the Hit King." "It's me telling stories about how I got started playing ball, the impact my father had on me as an athlete, signing with the Reds and right on through the breaking of the (all-time) hit record," Rose said Tuesday in a telephone interview."
Votto's bat headed to Hall - eventually
May 16
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The bat Joey Votto hit the three home runs with on Sunday, including the walk-off grand slam, is going to Cooperstown. Just as soon as Votto's finished with it. Votto is not superstitious about bats, but when he gets one he likes, he keeps it. "If a bat is good, I don't care if it produces homers, I don't care if I go 0-for-10, I'm going to keep using it," he said. "It's because of the quality of the bat and the way it feels. "That's what matters most to me.""
Braves victimize Cueto in Tuesday night win
May 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Braves offense has improved this year, no doubt about that. But for much of the past few days, they've been shouting it from the mountaintops. The Braves swept a weekend series from the defending World Series champion Cardinals by scoring 23 runs, then on Tuesday took aim at Johnny Cueto, the Reds right-hander with the best ERA in baseball. The Braves dominated Cueto in a 6-2 win Tuesday night to split the two-game series with the Reds and re-claim first place in the National League East. The Braves are one-half game ahead of the Nationals, who lost Tuesday afternoon to San Diego."
Votto's effort was most dramatically prolific ever for Reds
May 15
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"According to a sabermetric measure called "Win Probability Added," Joey Votto's 3-homer game last Sunday - capped by a walkoff grand slam - was the most dramatically prolific offensive day in 143 years of Reds' victories. For sheer drama - coming through in the clutch with his team tied or trailing - only Reds pinch-hitter Art Shamsky on Aug. 12, 1966, had a more prolific day than Votto, but Shamsky's heroics came in a 14-11 loss in 12 innings."
Would Youkilis be good fit with Reds?
May 15
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist Paul Daugherty
"Everybody ever raised in Cincinnati either stays forever or leaves and comes back. This is a stone, cold fact. If the Queen of England grew up in Delhi, Buckingham Palace would be on Delhi Pike, right by St. Dominic's. Kevin Youkilis wants to come back. He has made that plain. You have to feel it's plainer now, given the way his manager in Boston trashed him a month ago. Bobby Valentine is not in Youk's last will and testament. You have to feel Youkilis wants to go anywhere. Here would be on top of his anywhere list. He'd go from a franchise in perpetual turmoil, fretted over like a woman nine months pregnant, to a franchise in need of a little fretting, or at least some urgency. People"
Reds down Braves in Atlanta, 3-1
May 15
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Homer Bailey did not get the win for the Reds Monday night. But he put them in perfect position to win. And win they did. The Reds scored a pair of runs in the eighth on RBI doubles by Brandon Phillips and Chris Heisey to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 before a crowd of 19,697 at Turner Field. Bailey bounced back very well from his disaster of a start in Milwaukee. He allowed six runs over just 3 2/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday. Monday against the Atlanta Braves, Bailey only allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out three. The Braves came into the game leading the National League in runs, averaging 5.4 per games. The Braves"
Loss to Reds extends Braves' Monday blues
May 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"They came home flying high after one of their best road trips in years, but the Braves were brought back down by a loss to the Reds that extended their Monday blues. Jonny Venters allowed two runs on three hits in the eighth inning and the Braves began a four-game homestand with a 3-1 loss, their fifth in seven games at Turner Field. The Braves are 0-6 on Mondays and 22-8 on all other days. They've totaled 11 runs in six Monday games."
How much does Rolen's shoulder have left?
May 14
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist Paul Daugherty
"Scott Rolen's left shoulder is doing him wrong again. This time, it could be for all time. He's on the 15-day disabled list. That's a formality. Optimistically, after 15 days of rest and exercise, Rolen would pick up a bat and resume swinging. Swinging is what causes the problem. It's a Catch-22. What's caught is Rolen's career. And the Reds season. If Rolen's shoulder could talk, it would say, "Can we go home now?'' It is scar-tissued and mildly arthritic. It's a distance runner who's good only for the occasional 10K. Asking Rolen to play a big part in this season is like asking a Buick to be a Porsche. There are things Rolen and the Reds can do to help it; they're doing them now. But how"
Votto walk-off grand slam lifts Reds
May 14
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"It didn't shatter any outfield lights, but Joey Votto delivered a walk-off grand slam Sunday that was straight out of "The Natural." Votto made reference to the classic Robert Redford baseball movie shortly after the game, which the Reds won 9-6 on Votto's two-out slam. It was Votto's third homer on a long, memorable day at Great American Ball Park. Votto hit his two-out clincher off of Nationals closer Henry Rodriguez, in the twilight of a rainy Mother's Day. Votto later was asked by a reporter if the thought his ninth-inning blast (to center) would leave the stadium. "I thought it was going to hit the light standard and everything was going to come down," Votto said, trying not to smile."