The Reds broke a three-game losing streak and a 21-inning runless streak yesterday afternoon with a 4-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bronson Arroyo allowed four runs (earned) on seven hits and three walks through six innings of work. Chris Hammond pitched a hitless seventh. David Weathers allowed zero runs on two hits through the eighth and ninth for the win.

Hammond's ERA now stands at 5.51. It's a number so unnoteworthy that new readers probably don't even know why I bring it up.

After Arroyo gave up three runs in the top of the first, it was feeling like it was going to be another one of those days. But Ryan Freel celebrated his return to starter-dom with a lead-off home run, which provided excitement if not anything resembling a lead.

The Reds managed to keep their error count to one this time. Again our buddy Freel contributed in that department, allowing Shawn Green to advance to second on a fielding error in the sixth. The Diamondbacks did score another run in the sixth, but it wasn't Green.

In the bottom of the eighth, David Ross singled and Scott Hatteberg hit a home run to bring the score within one. Freel doubled and Felipe Lopez sacrificed him to third, but after an intentional walk of Ken Griffey, Jr., Rich Aurilia struck out and Adam Dunn lined out to end the threat.

It was a frustrating night for Dunn, who went 0-for-4. When he was called out on strikes in the seventh inning, he took it up with the home plate umpire. Manager Jerry Narron came out to protect his slugger and got himself kicked out of the game in the process.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Austin Kearns took a big swing and sent the ball dribbling into the infield. He legged it out to first to set up Javier Valentín for the big walk-off home run.

The win brings the Reds record to 28-22. Today they begin a nine-game road trip, with three games with the Cubs, Astros, and Cardinals. Elizardo Ramirez faces Kerry Wood at 2:20. That sounds fair.

It'd be nice to see that guy play more.

The Reds Community Fund is putting on a charity concert on June 15 to benefit the Reds Community Fund. The concert will feature the musical stylings of Bronson Arroyo and Raquel Aurilia. The Screaming Mimes will open.

Today on the podcast we talk to Media Designer, Scoreboard Operations Expert, and Screaming Mime David Storm about the concert. We're also planning to chat with Raquel Aurilia for the next episode of the podcast. Chances of getting Bronson Arroyo don't seem good.

You can get tickets at the Official Site or by calling 513-765-7042.

Episode 13: David Storm on the Reds Community Fund Concert. (8.1 MB, 8:50)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

For the second straight night, the Reds forced headline writers everywhere to come up with yet another way to say “this offense can't score for crap” after a 7-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Aaron Harang took the mound and allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits and one walk through seven innings. Kent Mercker, fresh off the disabled list, worked the eighth and allowed three runs (earned) on two hits and two walks. Matt Belisle held 'em hitless in the ninth.

The Reds' five hits were contributed by Felipe Lopez, Ken Griffey, Jr., Scott Hatteberg, Austin Kearns, and Harang.

Harang's hit came to lead-off the bottom of the fifth inning. The previous inning, Adam Dunn and Rich Aurilia walked before Hatteberg and Kearns made outs. Jason LaRue came up with two outs and worked a full count. Finally, he would try to pull back his swing at ball four and struck out. He was mad because he didn't think he went around, but I was mad because he pulled back.

The number eight batter can't try to draw a walk to load them up for the pitcher in the fourth inning, I said indignantly to my Crack Technical Staff. If it's hittable (and it was), he's got to hit it. Then Harang got his hit to lead off the fifth and my Crack Technical Staff made fun of me. I still think he should have swung.

The loss brings the Reds record to 27-22, their losing streak to three, and their shaking-your-head-and-sighing quotient through the roof. They attempt to avoid the sweep this afternoon by sending Bronson Arroyo up against Enrique Gonzales. Gonzales brings no record and no ERA to the game, so maybe this will be the game the Reds finally score a run against the Diamondbacks.

The Reds' offense continued a disturbing trend of being nonexistent on Friday when they lost the series opener to the Diamondbacks by a score of 3-0.

Eric Milton took the mound for the Reds for the second time since he's come off the disabled list. His first outing was very shaky: he allowed five runs on ten hits and three walks through five innings. This time was much stronger: one run (earned) on three hits in eight innings. Alas, it was no less of a loss.

Todd Coffey pitched the ninth and gave up his first home run of 2006, a two-run shot that caused his ERA to skyrocket to 1.26.

The Reds outhit the Diamondbacks 5-7. Adam Dunn provided three of those hits. Brandon Phillips, Scott Hatteberg, Austin Kearns, and Edwin Encarnación each provided one.

The loss brought the Reds' record to 27-21. They would continue the series on Saturday night, pitting Aaron Harang against Juan Cruz.