Last game
Mike Leake, fresh off the worries of being demoted to the minors for some up-start rookie, dominated the New York Mets last night, shutting them out for 7 innings, while allowing only 3 hits. The offense used a game plan that I think should be repeated in the future and scored all the runs the team needed in the first. Sure some of it was due to the Mets pretending to be the Cubs, but the results still had the Reds up 3-0 before any Met ever picked up a bat.

Next game
The Reds have won the 3-game series against the Mets and are going for the sweep today. Despite it still being the Mets and the Reds sending out Mat Latos, the win will still be difficult. Yes, the Mets have one good starting pitcher who has almost 1/3 of the team’s wins in Matt Harvey. The Reds will see how good he is today at 1:10pm.

Jeremy Affeldt no longer fears the gays
Jeremy Affeldt, a relief pitcher for the Reds in 2008, has released his memoirs in a book titled To Stir a Movement: Life, Justice, and Major League Baseball. In the book, Affeldt talks about overcoming his crippling fear or homosexuals.

“I didn’t leave my hotel room when we came to play the Giants or A’s. I didn’t want to go out or see anyone,” he said. “There was a profession of being wrong. I’ve come to that from a deep angle. I’ll probably get a lot of flak from the church for it, but I believe I’m right.”

It sounds like Affeldt didn’t like the person he was and actively sought out the Bay area when he become a free agent after his year with Cincinnati. In his time with the Giants–this is his fifth year with them–he’s overcome his phobia and now admits he was wrong to judge like he did before.

This is encouraging to hear from a baseball player. The response to the first openly gay NBA player was positive, and when a baseball player comes out, I’d love for it to not be a big deal. The progression of Affeldt’s judgmental conservative Christian beliefs to one of tolerance and acceptance is a good sign.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
With yesterday’s win, the Reds increased their road record to 12-12, the first time this season they’ve been at .500.

Last Game
After a day off, the Reds opened their series in Miami against the second-worst team in the Majors in a big way. Brandon Phillips started the scoring in the first by singling in Joey Votto. Then in the second, the team exploded for a five-run inning–two of which came from bases loaded walks–to give starter Homer Bailey far more run support than he needed.

Bailey was strong during his start, allowing two runs on just six hits, while walking out none and striking out 10. He notched the team’s first complete game of the season and captured just his second win.

Next game
The Reds hope to continue their five game road winning streak against the Marlins when Mike Leake starts. Miami counters with Alex Sanabia. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm.

Heisey further away from return after setback
Chris Heisey, along with Johnny Cueto and Manny Parra, was on a rehab assignment in the Reds’ minor leagues. Unfortunately, he re-injured the right hamstring that he’s on the disabled list for.

“They said he re-strained it,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s something you’re always apprehensive about when they’re coming back. You never really know, because one wrong move could send them back to zero. We hoped that he would be back by Philly, but it looks like now he won’t be.”

The 28-year-old was playing center field and batting second for the Blue Wahoos, but he never stepped in the batter’s box. Pensacola manager Delino DeShields pinch-hit for Heisey in the bottom of the first. The outfielder was originally scheduled to play seven innings.

This means we’ll continue to see more of Xavier Paul and Donald Lutz in left field. Considering how much better than Heisey both have been performing, that’s probably a good thing.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
Seven Cy Young winners started Major League baseball games yesterday. Barry Zito, Bartolo Colon, CC Sabathia, Jake Peavy, Felix Hernandez, R. A. Dickey, and Clayton Kershaw all pitched, with Sabathia and Hernandez facing each other.