The Reds pulled themselves to within one game of .500 in their last game before the All-Star break back on July 9. So many years, that would have sounded like a good thing, but this time it meant a 3-8 loss to the Braves.

Bronson Arroyo pulled himself to within three games of .500 with his four and one-third inning outing. He allowed six runs, all earned, on 10 hits and three walks. The loss brings his personal record to 9-6.

Matt Belisle finished out the fifth without a hit. Todd Coffey gave up two runs (earned) on four hits in the sixth. Kent Mercker held 'em scoreless in the seventh, as did David Weathers in the eighth.

Adam Dunn hit a three-run home run, scoring Scott Hatteberg and Felipe Lopez, in the sixth to provide the Reds' score. Ryan Freel and Rich Aurilia were the only Reds with more than one hit apiece. Freel went 2-for-3 before being pulled from the game with shoulder soreness in favor of Dewayne Wise. Aurilia went 2-for-4.

The loss brought the Reds' record to 45-44 to head into the All-Star break, and they weren't the only ones needing it, which is why you're reading this five days after the fact. Last night they were back home again to face the Rockies, with Eric Milton leading the charge against Jeff Francis.