Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Bats	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	9	0
Indians	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	10	0

Boxscore

As RHM mentioned, we headed to Victory Field to catch as much of the game between the Louisville Bats and Indianapolis Indians as a school-night would allow. Thankfully, we saw a little bit of offense in the hour and 30 we were there.

Chad Reineke started for the Bats and had decent results. In 5 innings, he allowed 2 runs and struck out 5. Of course, he also allowed 7 hits, which indicates either goof luck in not allowing more runs or bad luck in the defense behind him. And since most of the Reds’ best infield prospects are with the major league club or injured, I’m leaning towards the latter.

The offense was provided by lots of Bats batters, but none was more impressive than power-hitter Juan Francisco.

Francisco had what appeared to be either an accidental swing, or at least a half-hearted one, and sent a ball over the right field berm area. It was a power shot, and it looked like he barely swung. It’s the best display of his power I’ve seen. He’s almost always looked over-matched in the majors.

The rosters are set to expand for the Cincinnati Reds at the beginning of next month, but it’s hard to see who might be called up. Francisco, sure. But the only other position player who seems likely is catcher Devin Mesoraco. He went 1 for 4 on the night, but that one hit did lead to the eventual run scoring. Considering, he’s got a .291 average, a 37% on-base percentage, and is slugging .484, he might not have much left to prove in AAA, anyway.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Rockies (55-64)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	1
Reds (57-61)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-	2	6	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds split the 4-game series with the Colorado Rockies Thursday, thanks to another amazing start from Johnny Cueto.

Remember back in the playoffs last year when Baker picked Edinson Volquez to start the series against the Philadelphia Phillies? And then when he chose Volquez again to start the 2011 season? Yeah, he was wrong about Volquez being an ace. It was the other guy with dreadlocks.

Cueto has been amazing this year. This latest start is no exception. Over 7 innings, he allowed 3 hits, walked 2, struck out 9, and allowed no runs. That got his ERA back under 2.00 at 1.94. He leads the league in ERA and has clearly been about the best starter in the majors this year. And his record is only 8-5. The poor guy has had more blown saves than I care to look up.

But not this time. This time, the bullpen was there for him. Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless 8th, and Francisco Cordero picked up his 22nd save. Although he did allow one run. I think he was just doing his part to improve the Reds’ horrible record in games decided by one run.

The offense was the only thing that wasn’t strong for Cueto. It scored 2 runs in the first, thanks to an RBI from Jay Bruce and an error by the Rockies. In the end, it sure was nice to see the Reds not lose a series to a below-average team for a change.

Yonder Alonso, the rookie with a great bat and no natural position to play on the field for Cincinnati Reds, now has one less position to try to play.

Alonso had been playing left field in AAA Louisville, and then spent some time there for the Reds. But that is no more.

Asked if Alonso would play left again, Dusty Baker said: “Not in the near future.”

Alonso was rough in left field over the weekend, but I think not playing him might be premature. I mean, this is a team that supported Adam Dunn playing left field for just about forever. A great bat can more than make up for bad defense.

The plan now, though, is to have him try playing third base some. I fear this may end up leading to a Brandon Larson type of situation.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (55-59)	0	1	0	3	2	0	0	2	0	8	11	0
Cubs (49-66)	0	0	2	0	0	2	3	0	0	7	8	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds finished a disastrous road trip today. Before it, they were fresh off sweeping the world champion San Francisco Giants and looking at doing about the same to two of the worst teams in the majors in the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs.

That didn’t happen. The Reds barely won 1 of the 3 against the Astros. And today, they were looking at the very real possibility of being swept by the Cubs.

Bronson Arroyo started and made it all the way until the 3rd inning before giving up a home run. He would give up another in the 6th, but at that point the Reds actually had a 6-2 lead. The second homer made it 6-4.

Not a problem. Turn it over to the bullpen, right? Not so fast. Since the All Star break, sending relievers Logan Ondrusek and Nick Massett into games has been the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire. They continued their suckage today and gave up the lead.

But then there was a miracle. The Reds actually got a hit when it mattered. In the top of the 8th, Ryan Hanigan had a one-out hit to drive in the winning run.

Aroldis Chapman held the lead in the bottom of the 8th by striking out the side, and Francisco Cordero didn’t screw things up in the 9th.

Dave Sappelt made his major league debut, hitting leadoff in the lineup, and went 1-5 with a run scored. He also had a couple great defensive plays, including one where he didn’t search for a ball in the Wrigley outfield ivy. That move cost the Cubs 2 runs.

Drew Stubbs, Todd Frazier, and Edgar Renteria all contributed home runs in the 8-7 win.

The Cincinnati Reds have had a tough go of it this year. Performances of several players has not been what was expected, injuries have plagued the team, and they’ve also been a bit unlucky.

The injuries continue. The Reds today put outfielder Chris Heisey on the disabled list.

Heisey is dealing with a strained left oblique. He was too sore to hit and play the field Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

To replace him, outfielder Dave Sappelt was called up from the Louisville Bats. In AAA, Sappelt was good, hitting .313 with a .387 on base percentage and 7 home runs and 27 RBI. Hopefully he can also avoid the injury bug.