Last Game
The Reds won yesterday afternoon to take the last three games in the four-game series against the Padres. Johnny Cueto didn’t have his best stuff, but he still ate some innings and performed well enough to keep the Reds in it.

Ryan Ludwick, who had been dominant in the two previous games, sat yesterday, giving some other guys a chance to be heroes. Among them was Todd Frazier with 3 RBI. Final score: Padres 4, Reds 9.

Next Game
It’s no secret that the Reds have been beating up on some pretty poor teams in the last month, but that changes tonight. The Pirates have won 17 of their last 26, which normally would be the kind of performance that would have you climbing the rankings. We know the Reds can beat up on the teams they should beat. This series we see what happens when an opponent puts up a little more resistance.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Mat Latos (RHP, 9-3, 4.17 ERA) takes on an old friend in Wandy Rodriguez (LHP
0-0, 4.50 ERA).

It’s Bald Marty Day
Earlier in the season, Reds Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman made a comment like, “If this team wins 10 in a row, I’ll shave my head.” Well, then it happened, and he was called on to make good on the promise. Even though he’s 70 years old and his coif has been part of his look forever, he agreed.

But not right away. You don’t just throw away an opportunity like this. So he hooked up with the Reds Community Fund and told the fans that if they came up with $20,000 in donations, he’d have his head shaved on the field after the game tonight for all to see. (If they didn’t come up with the money, he’d have it shaved at his regular barber shop before the game.)

I haven’t heard officially, but I assume they’ve come up with the money because 1) it’s not really that much, and 2) I haven’t seen the big blitz to encourage donations that there would be if they hadn’t made it. Still, if you’d just like to be sure, here’s how you can donate:

• Go to www.reds.com/community (click on “Support the Reds Community Fund”)
• Call the Reds Community Fund office at (513) 765-7234
• Make a cash donation in the giant Reds Piggy Bank located on the Terrace Level behind home plate, though it’s probably a little late for that, I’m sure they wouldn’t turn down your donation.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds lead the central by 3.5 games, so even if the Pirates sweep the series, they cannot overtake first place.