Ryan Parker has set a cute little slide show to his song “Cincinnati is a Baseball Town.” Check it out for as you get ready for the game tonight.

Dammit. Now we get both McCracken and Olmedo pinch-hitting in every game. That's just lovely.

The Reds scored seven runs for the third game in a row last night when they defeated the Chicago Cubs by a score of 7-1. Oh yeah, and something about an eight-game winning streak too. And I think I heard someone say the phrase “first place.” I don't know: I wasn't really listening.

Bronson Arroyo got the win, allowing one run (earned) on five hits and zero walks through seven. Arroyo gave up the season's first home run to Tony Womack, which only counts for one on the scoreboard, but surely must count for a lot more in terms of shame.

Kent Mercker took over in the eighth and held the Cubs hitless. Esteban Yan took over in the ninth and did the same.

Let's call Ryan Freel the star of the game last night. He went 3-for-5 with two RBI. One of those was his fourth home run of the year (fifth one really, but I'll let that go one of these days), a solo shot in the third inning.

That being said, Brandon Phillips didn't do too bad either, going 2-for-4 with two RBI coming off a home run in the fourth. David Ross went 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBI. He also had a home run off the beleaguered Glendon Rusch in the fourth inning.

Rich Aurilia had the other RBI, but he didn't really have that good a night, so we'll leave it at that.

Between Freel, Phillips, Aurilia, and Womack, six of the eight runs scored in today's game were driven in by men who have played second base for the Reds this season.

Ken Griffey, Jr. did not play because he's still suffering some soreness in that quadriceps muscle. He did, however, deliver the line-up card before the game for the eighth time in a row. Even when the guy can't take the field, he still makes a contribution. What a team player.

The win brings the Reds' record to 36-24 and gives them their longest winning streak since 1999. Tonight we're going to party as Elizardo Ramirez faces off against Greg Maddux at 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park.

Thanks to a 7-1 win over the Cubs this evening and an off-day for the Cardinals, the Reds are now in sole possession of first place. And this ain't no early season aberration, either, baby. We're over a third of the way through and enjoying the view from the top.

Breathe it in. That's nice.

Wait. Actually, it kinda stinks in here. Jeepers, didn't the Cards ever clean up? We let them watch the place for two months and they let it go to hell. Looks like a tornado went through here.

There's jocks and empty packages from Chris Mihlfeld lying all over the damn place. And I think--yes, they definitely had an Eckstein problem. For crying out loud. We'd better get some traps.

You know, we've been gone for so long, it's nice to just be back at home in first. Let's not go out for a while, huh? We can just snuggle up in front of the t.v., have a beer, and enjoy each other's company.

Right after we get rid of that Edmonds smell.

The Reds made their second straight sweep of a division rival last night when they defeated the Cardinals 7-4.

Aaron Harang was a freakin' bad-ass through five innings. Not so much in the two-thirds of the sixth, but that's OK. When it was all said and done, he allowed three runs (earned) on eight hits and one walk for the win.

Chris Hammond, that guy you can actually count on to provide you some relief in the middle innings, finished out the sixth without a hit. David Weathers took over the seventh and eighth, giving up a home run (earned) on three hits. Todd Coffey sprinted out to hold the Cards hitless in the ninth for the save.

Rich Aurilia was the star last night, going 4-for-5 with 5 RBI. One of those hits was his seventh home run of the year, a three-run number in the sixth inning. Don't you love how someone different is the offensive star every night? Scott Hatteberg did pretty well himself, going 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBI.

Jason LaRue broke an ass-long hitless streak; something like 28 at-bats with a single in the seventh, but I'm not willing to say he's turned the corner yet. He went 1-for-4 on the night and is now the not-so-proud owner of a .174 batting average. You know, it's a shame, because LaRue seems like a hell of a guy, but the poor fella couldn't buy a hit right now. Someone ought to do something to help him out.

The win brings the Reds' record to 35-24 and their winning streak to seven. They head home tonight to pit Bronson Arroyo against Glendon Rusch. Yes, again. Arroyo is going for home run number three.