Boxscore

Lest you think that sweep of the Indians was a fluke, the Reds extended their winning streak to 4 games last night by beating the Mets 7-3.

Bronson Arroyo started for the Reds and put in 6.0+ innings of work. He allowed the Mets’ 3 runs (earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks. Among those hits were his 12th and 13th home runs allowed of the year.

Jose Arredondo, Sean Marshall, and Aroldis Chapman each put in a hit-less inning to finish out the game. It’s nice to see Marshall getting promoted to whole innings from the LOOGY role that Baker was using him in so much. He’s a better pitcher than that.

The offense last night came from…Wilson Valdez?? He went 2-for-5 with 3 RBI on the night. That brings him up to a .226 AVG. Yeah buddy! The other two RBI came from a 2-run homer from Brandon Phillips and a solo shot from Jay Bruce.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 36-27, 4.0 games in first in the NLC. The Reds continue the series tonight at 7:15 p.m. Homer Bailey (4-4, 4.35 ERA) takes on Jon Niese (4-2, 3.69 ERA).

After almost two weeks of not playing because of a strained oblique and flu-like symptoms, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs was finally placed on the disabled list.

I can only imagine that this happened after Walt Jocketty woke up from a week-long nap and wondered why Stubbs wasn’t playing. I mean, the only other explanation would involve assuming that the Reds management staff doesn’t fully understand how the disabled list works.

Whatever the reason, Stubbs was finally put on the disabled list, giving him some time to rest and recover. In his place, the Reds recalled Willie Harris.

Despite Harris’ awfulness earlier in the year, the move does make sense. In addition to Stubbs hurting, Chris Heisey strained his groin, making him unavailable for at least a couple games. The outfield depth is thin, and Harris might be able to help there. I’d love for him to improve on that .086 batting average.

Boxscore

The Reds got out their brooms for yesterday’s game against the Indians and swept that sucker, 5-12.

Mike Leake took the mound for the Reds. He was pitching on long rest, necessitated by the flu-like symptoms that he caught from half the other guys in the clubhouse. It wasn’t a stellar performance. In 4.1 innings pitched he allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Two of those hits were home runs to Shin-Soo Choo.

The bullpen was relatively well-rested and put in a good showing. Jose Arredondo finished off the fifth inning without giving up a hit and got the win for his efforts.

Alfredo Simon gave up the other 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk while he pitched the sixth and seventh. I bet it’s not too hard to give up a couple when you’re working with a 9 run lead. That might make it a little harder to keep your intensity up.

J.J. Hoover and Sam LeCure put in a scoreless inning apiece, and that was all she wrote for the Indians.

There was plenty of good to go around on the offensive side, and nine different guys contributed to the team’s 17 hits. Zack Cozart, Brandon Phillips, and Ryan Ludwick each went 3-for-5 on the night. Wilson Valdez went 0-fer in his pinch-hitting appearance.

Joey Votto, Phillips, and Ludwick each had home runs. Votto’s was his only hit of the night (along with 2 walks) but it was a 3-run shot in the bottom of the first that gave the Reds the lead that they never gave back. I was watching the game on TV, and frankly, it was almost a little boring. But a good kind of boring.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 35-27. They head out east to visit the Mets tonight. Bronson Arroyo (2-4, 3.79 ERA) takes on Dillon Gee (4-4, 4.42 ERA) at 7:10 p.m.

Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker has responded to what Derek Lowe said last night.

“He had some words for me. I really didn’t want to make a public thing or a public spectacle. He’s the one who brought it up. He had some choice words for me. I really don’t care if he respects me. It doesn’t matter.

“No. 1, you’ve got to ask him why he hit Joey Votto in the back two years ago. Yesterday, he took exception to a ball inside that didn’t hit him, then hit Brandon Phillips after that.

“I’m not denying nothing. I didn’t order anyone to hit him. I told (Mat Latos) to buzz him and make him uncomfortable. That’s what happened. Nobody hit him. Then he hit our guy.

“What he was talking about was something that he said and did a few years. You got to ask him what that was. You got a lot people involved in the situation that didn’t need to be involved in the situation. It didn’t come from there.

“Go ask him since he made it public. Understand what I’m saying. I’ll let it rest at that since he’s such a big man running his mouth talking about himself.”

Apparently, a reporter pressed Baker on the issue a little more, and Baker found a little more to say.

“Man, I don’t care,” Baker said. A lot of people don’t respect me. He don’t respect himself. The word was whatever he did and said probably there was a good chance he was drinking at the ballpark and he don’t remember what he said or what he did. OK.

“When he said I shook my finger at him to say I didn’t have nothing to do with it. It wasn’t to say I didn’t have anything to do with it. It was to say: Don’t mess with me or my team. That’s what that means. He better learn sign language. OK.”

All right. Lowe hates Baker and will throw at his players. And the feeling is mutual from Dusty. Also, Baker accused someone–maybe Lowe–of being drunk while at work. Everything is clear as mud.

It’s interesting to see Baker fired up like this. Usually, he’s a very laid-back, cool guy. Something happened that royally pissed him off, though, and he can apparently hold a grudge.