The Reds put on a comedy of errors yesterday. They committed five as a team (three by Edwin Encarnación) that resulted in a 1-4 loss to the Cubs in Wrigley Field Wednesday afternoon.

Brandon Claussen took the mound, and he did OK. I think. It's really hard to tell how a pitcher does when the team commits five errors behind him. The box says he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits through five innings.

Mike Burns took over the sixth and seventh innings and held the Cubs scoreless on three hits. David Weathers came in in the eighth to hold the Cubs hitless.

In the bottom of the first, the Cubs got on the board when Juan Pierre led off with a bunt single, and Derrek Lee walked two batters later. With Michael Barrett batting, the runners pulled off the double-steal, and then advanced again on a throwing error by Javier Valentín. Barret then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Lee before the final out. Score: 0-2.

They were at it again in the third. Pierre reached when Scott Hatteberg couldn't handle a throw. Lee reached on a throwing error by Encarnación. The two again pulled of the double-steal, and when Barrett induced a fielding error by Encarnación, Pierre scored. Sigh. Score: 0-3.

Encarnación was responsible for the Reds' only RBI when he hit a double in the fourth to bring in Adam Dunn, who had walked. Does one RBI make up for three errors? No. But at least he prevented a shutout at the hands of the Cubs. Score: 1-3.

The Cubs got their final run in the fifth inning somehow. The GameDay won't load the bottom of the inning, and I can't research it right now lest I be late for work. Whatever happened, it was disheartening. Score: 1-4.

The loss brings the Reds' record to 5-3. Eric Milton takes on Carlos Zambrano today in the rubber game at 2:20 pm.

BOSTON, MA -- Having witnessed the emergence of Bronson Arroyo as a hitter since his arrival in Cincinnati, the Boston Red Sox are hoping to have similar success with Wily Mo Peña on the mound.

The Red Sox traded pitcher Arroyo to the Reds for outfield slugger Peña on March 20. Boston knew the power hitter Peña was a work in progress, but they didn't expect to lose home runs with the deal. While Peña's best demonstration of strength in the young 2006 season has come on a double, Arroyo has hit a home run in each of the two games he's started.

“We send our pitcher to Cincy and suddenly he's a hitter,” said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. “It is logical that the inverse would also be true.”

Peña will take the mound Saturday against Seattle. He's excited about the opportunity. “I can do this well,” said Peña. “I know a thing or two about strike-outs.”

Asked to comment, Reds' manager Jerry Narron was dismissive. “You think if Wily Mo could pitch we would have traded him?” he asked.

Still, Red Sox' manager Terry Francona is optimistic about Peña's performance on the mound. “The way I see it,” said Francona. “He was already giving up home runs in right field, so this move can't make things worse.”

“Besides,” added Francona, “If we can make a good enough pitcher out of him, maybe we can trade back.”

Promoted from the diaries:

According to Marc, Ken Griffey, Jr. looked “awkward” in his final at-bat before Ryan Freel took his place in center field just now in the fourth inning.

Hope he's OK. And I mean really OK, not I-can-struggle-through-the-pain OK. We've seen how that works out.

Here I was, thinking maybe Jerry Narron was getting Freel into the game before the 1 or 2 runs he might be able to generate would be pointless.

P.S. - I'm putting this in a diary because I can't figure out how to put up a proper post at work. I'm lost without my crack technical staff.

Profile: Edwin Encarnacion in the Cincinnati Enquirer

Player Information on Reds.com

Profile: Edwin Encarnacion in the Cincinnati Enquirer

Player Information on Reds.com