After leaving Bronson Arroyo hanging on Saturday, the offense showed up for Elizardo Ramirez this afternoon, giving him a 4-2 win over the Indians.

The Lizard lasted six and one-third innings, allowing two runs (earned) on seven hits and one walk, earning him his third win of the season. Honestly, though, he's earned far more than three wins.

Chris Hammond, the one-or-two-batter-specialist, worked one an two-thirds innings, allowing zero runs on one hit. Todd Coffey had a bad-ass ninth, working three easy ground outs. He threw five pitches.

Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey, Jr. each hit two-run homers in the fourth inning to provide the Reds' RBI. All but three Reds had hits today, which is a refreshing change of pace. The three Reds who went hitless, Ryan Freel, Brandon Phillips, and Austin Kearns each had a walk, so every starter was on base at some point.

Like yesterday's game, I couldn't watch today's game either. This time I can't blame Fox, though: I had to make myself scarce while my Realtor® hosted an open house. Two people came, which is two more than I expected, so I'm psyched about that.

The win brings the Reds' record to 41-35 and gives them a winning road trip. Thanks to a rough patch for the St. Louis Cardinals, our boys are just two games out of first place in the NLC. They take Monday off before starting a homestand against the Kansas City Royals. Eric Milton takes on Mike Wood.

CINCINNATI, OH -- Manager Jerry Narron announced this afternoon that star pitcher Bronson Arroyo will move to the Cincinnati bullpen to bolster the relievers.

“One thing we're really lacking is a solid long reliever and spot starter,” said Narron. “It will be nice to finally have someone with some real relieving experience that we can count on out of the 'pen.”

Arroyo was an innings eater who notched a few key starts in the post-season for the Boston Red Sox. Boston traded him to Cincinnati for Wily Mo Peña just before the season began.

“He said he'd rather pitch out of the Boston bullpen than start for anyone else,” said Narron. “This move gets him halfway there.”

Elizardo Ramirez's traditional lack of offense came a day early and accidentally got all over the hallowed Bronson Arroyo on Saturday when his team was shut out on his watch, 0-4.

Arroyo lasted six innings, allowing three runs (earned) on five hits and two walks for the loss. Kent Mercker took over the seventh to allow another run (earned) on one hit. David Weathers allowed zero runs on one hit in the eighth.

Ryan Freel followed up his five-hit game with a 1-for-4 performance. Seeing as he was one of only four Reds to hit at all, that really doesn't look so bad. It did bring his average all the way down to .307, though.

Ken Griffey, Jr. was the only Red with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 on the night. Brandon Phillips and David Ross each provided a hit as well.

I couldn't watch the game on Saturday. It was not aired on FSN Ohio, but instead on Fox. Rather, for many people it was aired on Fox, for me it was aired nowhere. Fox carried the stupid White Sox game. However, a guy at Lowe's commented on my Reds' shirt while the game was going on, so that was practically the same thing.

The loss brought the Reds' record to 40-35. They'd go for the series win on Sunday when Elizardo Ramirez took on rookie Jeremy Sowers.

The Reds, fueled by a complete game shutout from Aaron Harang and a 5-for-5 night from Ryan Freel, opened the series against the Indians with a big win on Friday, 0-3 in Cleveland.

Harang allowed seven hits and two walks in his eighth win of the season. He struck out six.

Freel's five hits accounted for half of the team's total of ten. His two runs scored accounted for two-thirds of the team's total of three. His hyperactivity accounted for the cans of Jolt left all over the clubhouse floor.

This game wrap is only four paragraphs long so far, but what more is there to say? Maybe just “Yayyyyy!!”

The win brought the Reds' record to 40-34. They would continue the series against the Indians on Saturday when they sent Bronson Arroyo out to face Paul Byrd.