Last Game
The Reds beat the Braves, 3-4. It’s the fourth win in a row, and it guarantees the Reds cannot lose the four-game series. Mat Latos was awesome, including 8 Ks in 7 innings. Brandon Phillips was awesome, including going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.

Next Game
Game three of the series commences tonight at 7:10 p.m. Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 3.46 ERA) goes against Tommy Hanson (5-3, 3.31 ERA).

300 Starts for Arroyo
Arroyo’s start tonight will be the 300th start of his career. Of which, 210 have been with the Reds. Of which, 150 haven’t involved any verbalized wishing to still be back in Boston.

I’ve had my share of fun picking on Bronson Arroyo over the years, but even I will acknowledge that’s a big contribution to have made to the team. The Reds have been better off for his presence, even if it did come at the expense of Wily Mo Peña.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Zack Cozart has a two-game home run streak going.

Last Game
The Reds beat the Braves 1-5. Mike Leake finally got a win, plus his first career home run. If ever Dusty was going to let a guy bat and then replace him in the defensive part of the inning, this is the guy to do it with. But, no, Dusty didn’t do that with Leake last night.

Next Game
The series with the Braves at Great American Ball Park continues tonight at 7:10 p.m. Mat Latos (2-2, 4.63 ERA) takes on Brandon Beachy (5-1, 1.33 ERA) in a matchup that does not favor him as well as Leake’s did last night. At least the bullpen is rested.

Give that Guy an Honorary Contract
Unusual enough to get back to back home runs out of your pitcher and lead-off hitter, but to have both of those home run balls caught by the same guy is something Hollywood would make up.

And yet, 20-year old Caleb Lloyd, a Thomas More College student, was the lucky recipient of both of those home run balls. You can catch the video here (HT Cincinnati Reds Blog).

Lost in all this stroke of lightning talk is the fact that these were just the first two of three back-to-back-to-back home runs.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The guy going against Latos tonight has the best ERA for a starter in all of baseball. He has Johnny Cueto beat by 0.64.

Last Game
Reds win! Reds win! They took the last game 5-2 to win the series against the Yankees.

Next Game
The Reds head back home to host the Atlanta Braves today. Mike Leake (0-6, 6.21 ERA) will face off against Mike Minor (2-3, 7.09 ERA).

Knocking on the Door
Though the Reds have only gone 5-5 over their last 10 games, the Cardinals have fallen to earth, putting in a 2-8 performance in their last 10. This puts the Reds a scant 0.5 games out of first place. If the Reds were playing even close to the full potential we all know they have, they’d be leading this one by 7, like the Dodgers are in the NLW.

In third place: the Pirates, 3 games back at 19-22. I love to see the Buccos on the top half of the standings.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Aroldis Chapman got his first save of the season last night. Since he’s apparently the team’s closer now, it shouldn’t take long for him to get the other seven he needs to become the team’s save leader.

Last Game
It looks like the Reds were going to sweep the two-game series against the Mets, but then it all came crashing down. They lose 4-9, bringing their record to 19-18.

Next Game
The Reds start a series with the 20-18 Yankees tonight at 7:05 p.m. Bronson Arroyo (2-1, 3.25 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Reds and face off against some no name guy… Andy Pettitte or something (0-1, 5.68 ERA).

The Frustration of the DH when Baker is the Manager
Interleague play starts tonight, and, while Dusty Baker makes all sorts of baffling managerial decisions, his choices of who to have HD are a special kind of torture. I don’t know what he’s got planned for tonight, but last year he chose guys who weren’t getting playing time because they were struggling at the plate. Basically, the exact opposite of the guy you want DHing, and it shows. In 9 interleague road games last season, Reds’ DHs batted .188, including 8 starts by Jonny Gomes (5-28) and 1 start by Fred Lewis (1-4).

Fred Lewis! Honestly.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Because the Reds were playing the Yankees immediately after the Mets, they didn’t change hotels. That made yesterday’s series ender a get-away game for the home team (the Mets take on the Blue Jays tonight), but not the visitors.

Last Game
Yesterday the Reds took the first in the two game series against the Mets, 6-3. Jose Arredondo go tthe win, thanks to Todd Frazier knocking in his second home run of the game to take the lead during Arrendondo’s tenure.

Next Game
Today the Reds go for the sweep of the short series. Mat Latos (2-2, 4.54 ERA) takes on knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (5-1, 3.65 ERA) at 1:10 p.m.

Todd Frazier Dances in High Socks

You can always count on Brandon Phillips to entertain on Twitter. Via OMGReds.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Brandon Phillips’ next RBI will be his 500th as a Red