Boxscore

The Reds extended their winning streak to 5 games last night by beating the Mets 4-1.

Homer Bailey put in an excellent start for the Reds, allowing 1 run (earned) on 6 hits and a walk through 8.0 innings of work, and he only threw 103 pitches to do it. Aroldis Chapman finished the game out in the fashion we’d become so accustomed to before: hitless and struck out one.

No one had more than 1 hit in the game, but Jay Bruce was the offensive hero last night, with the 3-run home run in the first inning to log 75% of the Reds’ score. Ryan Ludwick brought in the other run in the fourth when he singled in Bruce who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

The Reds look for the sweep and to continue the streak today at 1:10 p.m. Johnny Cueto (7-3, 2.46 ERA) goes against Chris Young (1-0, 3.38 ERA).

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.