The Reds finally got a winning streak going when they took the second game of the series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday by a score of 3-7.

Elizardo Ramirez, recently chosen over Dave Williams to take on the role of fifth starter, took the mound and finally got some run support. He worked five innings, allowing three runs (earned) on five hits and three walks, to get the win.

Chris Hammond took over for the sixth and seventh, allowing zero runs on two hits. Todd Coffey worked the eighth and ninth, allowing zero runs on one hit. We're a quarter of the way through the season, and Coffey's ERA remains well under one at 0.65. Perhaps even more astounding, Hammond's ERA has fallen all the way to 5.87.

The Reds scored in four different innings beginning with the first. With two outs, Ken Griffey, Jr. doubled and Rich Aurilia brought him in with a base hit to center field. Adam Dunn walked, but Austin Kearns struck out to end the threat.

In the fifth inning, Felipe Lopez and Brandon Phillips both singled to set up Griffey for a three-run home run. Two retired batters later, Kearns singled, Edwin Encarnación was hit by a pitch, and Jason LaRue walked. Alas, Scott Hatteberg grounded out to strand those ducks on the pond.

In the sixth inning, Lopez doubled and Phillips singled to again put Griffey in a RISP position. He knocked in Lopez with the first of three sacrifice flies on the night. Phillips stole third base while Aurilia was batting, and came home on Aurilia's sacrifice fly to center. Dunn flied out to end the inning.

In the seventh, Kearns doubled and Encarnación walked to move him to second. The runners advanced on a wild pitch while LaRue was batting, and Encarnación scored on LaRue's sac fly. It was the last sacrifice fly and the last run of the game.

The win brought the Reds record to 27-10. They would go on to try for the sweep against Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Brandon Claussen versus Doug Davis.

Congratulations to Ryan Parker, who will be performing everyone's favorite song “This One Belongs to the Reds” at the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on July 16.

You may remember this song from my third podcast where it played at the very end. You can find the song, along with his new one “Cincinnati is a Baseball Town,” at http://www.ryanparkersongs.com.

Again with the old news, but I'm getting closer to up-to-date all the time. Per Marc, Cody Ross was activated from the disabled list yesterday. To make room, the Reds optioned Mike Burns back to Louisville.

Cody Ross' eternal rehab assignment is over. He was activated from the DL today and Mike Burns was optioned back to Louisville.

Guess it is a bit intriguing that they're going down to 11 pitchers, but that might only last a couple of days, pending Mercker's expected return Friday.

Yep, there's not much more to say than that. Except that I'm looking forward to Mercker's return.

You'll be relieved to know that Tiny Casey has been found. That dastardly Blade took him.

Should we censure Blade somehow, or is being eternally trapped in 1976 punishment enough?

By now I'm sure you've seen the Reds'-related On the DL entry.

I'm not prepared to judge the veracity of the accusation, and I don't really have anything to add to the discussion. I'm just taking this opportunity to post this photo of Graves' wife and kids.

When I saw this back on Mother's Day last year, I thought she was too pretty for him.