Manager Jerry Narron again made some questionable calls this afternoon in what would turn out to be a 4-2 game to lose the series to the New York Mets.

Bronson Arroyo continued his march to a nine-win season when he put in eight innings of two-run (earned), six hit work. He struck out eight and walked zero.

Two words, my friends: bad karma.

Eddie Guardado worked the ninth and allowed no runs on one hit. Being the one new reliever who has demonstrated that he can definitely get the job done, and being that the pitcher's spot wasn't due up for seven batters, he should have also pitched the tenth.

Instead, Narron sent out Gary Majewski, apparently to give him another chance to win our hearts. In the space of two outs, Majewski gave up two runs (earned) on two hits for the loss. Kent Mercker got the final out.

Majewski has now pitched two innings in three appearances and given up five runs. He sports a lean 22.50 ERA as a Red. And admittedly, that's not great. But you have to admit: it's better than Austin Kearns could have done.

Ryan Freel, finally back from his lingering shoulder injury, knocked in both Reds' runs in the fifth inning, scoring Royce Clayton and Jason LaRue. Freel was 3-for-5 on the night.

Edwin Encarnación finally got a start and went 2-for-2 with a walk! Finally, he got the chance to prove himself and did it with flying colors! And got pinch-hit for in the seventh! By Scott Hatteberg!

Honestly, people, what the hell? Sure, Hattey's been hot, but so has Eddie. There was only one out in the inning, and Brandon Phillips was coming up next. Going into the stretch, general manager Wayne Krivsky noticed that the bullpen was losing the team a lot of games and took drastic measures to fix it. Has he noticed how many games Narron has lost the team this week? Will he take drastic measures? Might I recommend a Kool-Aid colonic?

The loss brings the Reds' record to 50-46. Tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. they open a series with the Brewers, sending The Lizard, Elizardo Ramirez out to face Chris Capuano.

Scott Spiezio already dyes his lame little soul patch with Strawberry Splash flavor Kool-Aid, you know he'd be first in line for this ride.

Oh yeah!

It's been an exhausting week at the Hot Mama household. My Crack Technical Staff recently became gainfully employed, leaving me to do--gasp!--some of my own dishes! So I didn't need no rain delay to make me fall asleep before the end of this one. I was asleep before the first inning was over.

Fortunately, our boys in Red are somewhat better rested than I, and were able to weather the weather to hang in there for the 4-7 win over the Mets.

Aaron Harang started it off and was nowhere remotely close to on as he gave up four runs (earned) on four hits and two walks in two innings. Then the rain rolled in and Harang didn't step foot on the mound again, probably all for the better.

Jason Standridge, coming off a zero-hit inning the night before, put in two innings of one-hit wonder. David Weathers was hitless in the fifth and sixth, as was Kent Mercker in the seventh.

Let's take a moment to appreciate that: Standridge and Weathers working the early innings, Mercker somewhat later. Isn't that nice? Well done, Narron.

Bill Bray got two outs in the eighth without giving up a run, and Todd Coffey got the last one for the win. Eddie Guardado got his ninth save of the season with a hitless ninth.

Like I said, I didn't really see this game. But even in my sleep I could feel the powerful vibes of Scott Hatteberg and his 3-for-4 night. At least, that's what I assume I was feeling.

Jason LaRue had a couple RBI, as did Edwin Encarnación, who was again relegated to pinch-hitting. EdE went 1-for-his 1 opportunity, but alas, Rich Aurilia had a home run, and Brandon Phillips left only two on base, so there's still no room for young Encarnación on the field.

The win brought the Reds' record to 50-45. They'd go for the series win Thursday, pitting Bronson Arroyo against the ghost of Tom Glavin.

Smartelf over at the Big Red Mechanic has a few set of 1975 World Series DVDs to give away. His contest is real easy, so if you haven't already bought your copy you can try your luck in his drawing, without even having to come up with a haiku.

Hey, remember back on Tuesday, before the game when we were flying relatively high, nearly forgetting the loss of Austin Kearns on the intoxication of a four-game sweep of the Rockies?

Man, those were good times.

Too bad the Mets had to come to town and hand the Reds an 8-3 loss.

Or, to be precise, too bad manager Jerry Narron had to leave starting pitcher Eric Milton in one inning--hell, one batter--too long. When it was all said and done, Milton allowed seven runs (earned) on six hits and four walks through seven innings pitched, but four of those runs and three of those hits happened in the seventh.

I know I'm late getting around to this, and that it's already been talked to death and that the rest of the blogosphere has moved on to the next Narron loss. But I still can't get my head around how a person could mess this up. There are times when I think that Narron should be required to run his ideas past any normal Joe--some guy in the stands behind the dugout will do--to see how he responds. I think the shouting and expletives might have clued Jerry into the fact that sending Milton back out, let alone letting him continue with the bases juiced, probably wasn't the best idea he had all day.

OK, focus. Jason Standridge threw a hitless eighth. Bill Bray gave up one more run on two hits in the ninth.

Brandon Phillips and Royce Clayton each brought in a run in the sixth. Dewayne Wise finally got a hit in the sixth inning and scored on an Adam Dunn single. And that's all they got.

Rich Aurilia went 3-for-4. Phillips went 0-for-4. Edwin Encarnación went 0-for-0 as he rode the pine yet again. You know, it's a shame that Aurilia and Encarnación play the same position. It would be great to let them both get some playing time and maybe give a rest to someone who's scuffling.

The loss brought the Reds' record to 49-45. They would continue the series on Wednesday, sending Aaron Harang out to face Steve Trachsel.