Game 27: Reds 4, Cardinals 3

The Reds won their third straight game Monday for the first time in 2008 in a 4-3 win at St. Louis.

Two key defensive plays by Edwin Encarnacion, including a diving seventh-inning grab resulting in the third out and a sliding catch under Paul Bako to end the game, sealed the deal on a night when the Reds seemed destined to lose an early 4-0 lead. Edwin also drove in two of the team's four runs, one on a second-inning double and one on a third-inning double.

On the pitching side, Bronson Arroyo looked like the good Bronson for the first time all year. His delivery looked more sidearm/three quarters than it has all year, he did a great job changing speeds and his curve had a ton of bite coming from the strange angle. He wound up allowing three runs in six innings but really pitched much better than that. Jared Burton, Jeremy Affeldt and Francisco Cordero also had a scoreless inning of work each to finish things up, although Burton made it interesting, allowing two hits and forcing Edwin to save the day on a hard smash to third from Yadier Molina.

This was a fantastic win for the Reds to open the series in St. Louis. Beating the team in first always helps you, obviously, and Busch has been a bit of a house of horrors since the place opened (7-11 since it opened). It seems like every year the Reds blow a few games at that park and it was nice getting an early lead and more importantly, holding on. If Bronson can keep up his quality starts, this rotation is going to be in great shape.

Offensively, Ken Griffey Jr., Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn each had two hits, another reason for encouragement. I'm telling you, the pitching has been good enough that if the Reds can get it going at all offensively they're going to make some noise in this division.

PLAYER MOVE!!!!!
No handwringing on this one: Toddrick Coffey is a Louisville Bat once more, and The Honourable Sir William of House Bray has been called up. The move gives the Reds three lefties in the bullpen, but all accounts have been that Bray has been lights-out in AAA, and he looked very good down the stretch last year. Exchanging a useful arm for a black hole? Works for me.

So far this is the only move that has come out of the big Jocketty Meeting with front office officials.

TOMORROW
Johnny Cueto vs. Joel Piniero lock up as the Reds try to ensure a series win. First pitch 8:15 Eastern, 5:15 here in paradise. Peace!