Hall of Fame reporter Hal McCoy had the chance to sit down and chat with Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker when he was in the office yesterday, and it sounds like Baker is very close to returning.

Baker was upbeat, enthusiastic and effervescent during my short visit.

He looked fit and trim and the smile on his face was as wide as the room. His handshake was bone-shattering, as it always is.

Baker had a good attitude about the mini-stroke, feeling a little lucky to have it happen while he was still in the hospital. And he’s planning on returning for the final series of the regular season against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I’m OK, I’m fine,” he said. “I haven’t felt this good in a long time. I can’t remember the last time I felt this good.”

That’s encouraging news. While Baker has been making appearances before each of the last several games at the ball park, his actual presence with what is his team during the games will be very important for the playoffs.

Besides, it would be a shame for him to miss any post-season celebration.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brewers (739-75)	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	5	0
Reds (93-61)	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	-	4	9	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds won the opener of their final home series of the 2012 season, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2.

Johnny Cueto started and pitched better than he has in a while. Cueto lasted 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and no walks while striking out 5. He weathered some concern over a potential leg issue early on in the game, but clearly it didn’t bother his pitching. In his first attempt to pick up his 19th win, he did so. He should have 1 more chance to get to number 20.

The Reds took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd and never let it go. After three singles from Jay Bruce, Chris Heisey, and Drew Stubbs, Dioner Navarro came to the plate and drove in two with a line drive to left field.

In the 5th, after the Brewers had gotten on the board, the Reds responded by getting that run plus another back. Zack Cozart led off the inning with a triple. Joey Votto followed up with a double to score him. Two batter later, Bruce doubled in Votto.

Those 4 runs were enough for Cueto and the bullpen to handle. Jonathan Broxton pitched his scoreless 8th, and Aroldis Chapman, in his first save appearance since his long break, had an easy 1-2-3 9th. Chapman failed to strike anyone out, but his fastball was in the high-90s. His control was improving as the inning went along, too.

The Reds and Brewers play the second game of their series tonight. Bronson Arroyo will continue the Reds’ fight for the best record in the National League, while Shaun Marcum will try to keep the Brewers’ wild card hopes alive. Game time is 7:10pm.

The Cincinnati Reds released today what had kept manager Dusty Baker away from the team for so long. As everyone feared, it was more than just an irregular heartbeat. Baker had a stroke on Friday.

While in Chicago on Wednesday, Reds manager Dusty Baker was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as an irregular heartbeat. As he was being discharged on Friday, he suffered a mini-stroke and immediately was treated by the hospital’s stroke team, which minimized the effects of the stroke.

Dusty returned to Cincinnati on Sunday, and his condition has improved dramatically. His Cincinnati neurologist, Dr. Joseph Broderick, and cardiologists, Dr. Dean Kereiakes and Dr. Daniel Beyerbach, expect Dusty to make a full recovery and return to the dugout, possibly as soon as the season’s final series next week in St. Louis.

Dusty said, “While at Wrigley Field I was blessed to have our trainer, Paul Lessard, have the good sense to call in Cubs team physician Dr. Stephen Adams, who examined me in the clubhouse, immediately determined how serious by condition was and personally rushed me to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Broderick and Dr. Kereiakes are going to make sure I’m ready to handle the duties of managing before I return full time. My family and I are very grateful for the support we’ve received the past few days from Mr. Castellini and our ownership group, Walt, our friends, the baseball family and especially Reds fans. I’m feeling much better, and it’s great being back here in Cincinnati. Chris Speier and my staff are doing a terrific job, and I look forward to getting back to the dugout.”

I hope Baker is able to recover enough to manage the team again soon. He’s already had to miss the division-clinching night. Missing the playoffs would be tragic. Get well soon, Dusty.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Dodgers (78-74)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
Reds (92-60)	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	3	-	6	8	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds started the game with a magic number of 1. All they needed was for the Chicago Cubs to hold on and beat the St. Louis Cardinals or to win their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs were the Cubs and lost in extras, which meant the Reds were going to have to take care of business themselves if they wanted to clinch today.

Mat Latos held up his end of the deal, throwing a better 8 innings than Bronson Arroyo did the night before. In his 8 innings, he shutout the Dodgers and allowed 6 hits, no walks, and struck out 7. He’s been amazing the second half of the season, and it’ll be nice to see him in the playoffs. The kid can pitch.

The Reds’ offense was slow to get started again, and it looked for the first third of the game that another excellent start might be wasted. But Jay Bruce–he who hit the division-winning home run back in 2010–came to the plate in the 4th inning and launched his 34th home run of the season into the right field seats. That put the Reds on the board and gave them a lead they would never relinquish.

Plus, it gave Bruce home runs in consecutive division-clinching games. I think that a new rule should be passed saying he has to do that moving forward.

After that, the offense woke up. In the 5th, Todd Frazier singled in Brandon Phillips. In the 7th, Phillips hit his 18th home run. And in the 8th, the Reds scored a total of 3 runs, one from a sacrifice bunt from Chris Heisey, and 2 from a single from Zack Cozart.

Afterwards, the Reds partied on the field and in the clubhouse, but I have a feeling their work isn’t done. In 2010, the team hadn’t had a winning season in a decade, so the division was an achievement. This time, most of the players remember the early playoff exit, and none of them want that again.

The Reds do still have the best record in the National League and home-field advantage throughout the post-season to play for, but I imagine we’ll start seeing the regulars rested. Even though tonight’s game will be ESPN’s Sunday night game, don’t be surprised to see a lot of backups in the line up. Homer Bailey will start for Cincinnati, while for the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw will start, if he’s deemed healthy enough. Otherwise, expect to see Aaron Harang. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05pm.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Dodgers (78-73)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	7	0
Reds (91-60)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds had their first chance to win their division last night, thanks to the St. Louis Cardinals choking at the last minute against the Chicago Cubs. Unfortunately, the Reds’ offense was not up to the challenge.

Bronson Arroyo had another nice start, this time going 8 innings and allowing 1 run on 6 hits and no walks. He struck out 4. During that time, the offense managed one meager run, and that was driven in from Arroyo’s bat.

The game stayed tied at 1-run apiece through regulation, and extra innings were forced. Sam LeCure started the top of the 10th, but quickly got into trouble. He hit his first batter. Two sacrifice bunts later–one of which did not result in any outs–LeCure walked the bases loaded.

At this point, substitute manager Chris Speier called on Sean Marshall to attempt to escape the 1-out, bases-loaded jam. Marshall started out well, striking out Andre Ethier. But the next batter, Matt Kemp, singled to right field, driving in 2 and giving the Dodgers the lead.

The Reds managed nothing but a walk in the bottom of the 9th in their failed comeback attempt.

The Reds’ magic number remains one. Assuming the Cardinals don’t collapse against the Cubs again, the Reds will attempt to clinch the division this afternoon at 4:05 pm. Mat Latos goes for Cincinnati, while Stephen Fife goes for the Dodgers.