So, was looking out on the field and was like, 'oh, there's some toolbag with his own name on a No. 17 jersey.' Then realized he probably didn't buy it, because it's the Bengals' Shayne Graham, who is scheduled to throw out the first pitch. Also a nod to the Bengals by playing 'Welcome to the Jungle'. Nice move by Graham, who set up the ball at the front of the mound and took his steps like he was going to kick it. Instead, he picked it up got ont he rubber and threw a strike to Paul Janish.

OK, so, I always get e-mails around Indians time because, well, I always refer to them as the Racist Mascots. This cartoon pretty much sums up my feelings. Found it from a google search, so I don't know who to credit. The signature at the bottom isn't that easy to pick up.

Yes, I know they've been moving away from that image for years, but it's still there. The name Indians? Well, I don't particularly like it, but I can understand both sides, I guess. But the Chief Wahoo? I find it difficult to see it as anything but offensive. They've been the Blues, the Bronchos and the Naps before becoming the Indians, but I prefer the Spiders, the name of the first major league club in Cleveland, the National League Spiders. It also works, because that's the team Louis Sockalexis played for -- he's the guy revisionists will say the team is named after (even though that's pretty much been discredited).

* Top 1: 1-2-3 for Cueto, including a K of Jhonny Peralta. And for some reason, LaBarge's 'Who's Johnny?' is stuck in my head. Maybe Dave Storm can throw that in the next time he comes up. Redlegs 0, Racist Mascots 0

* Bottom 1: I have no idea what's gotten into the Redlegs of late, but this is another early lead. Griffey walked and Phillips hit his 8th homer of the season. He admitted to the TV cameras before the game that he wants to beat the Indians a little more than other teams. He did his part with that upper-deck shot. Redlegs 2, Racist Mascots 0

* Top 2: Six up, six down. Cueto's not lighting up the gun. I've not looked at every pitch, but the highest I've seen is 93. But he's still pretty darn good. Sizemore and Francisco hit the ball hard to left, but bothw ere out. Redlegs 2, Racist Mascots 0

* Bottom 2: Man, Dunn killed that one. It hit somewhere on the back of the visitor's bullpen. I was talking to Dunn about his homer Wednesday night and asked if it went higher or further. He said he thinks it was higher. "It was long enough," I said. "You don't have to tell me." This one went 432 feet, shorter than Phillips' 446-foot shot. Johnny Cueto laid downa perfect sac bunt after Bako walked. Nice job by the youngster. Freel up to Tom's Diner. I can't tell you how much I enjoy that. (I believe it's the DNA version, not the Suzanne Vega original. But I'll have to check with Dave Storm about that one. Really, I think Vega's 99 F album is criminally underrated. Blood Makes Noise is just an awesome song, as is the title track.) Marvin Hudson calls Freel out looking. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Top 3: Wow, the perfecto is gone when Cueto walks Sowers, who had hte best at-bat so far. It was announced that only standing room only tickets remain for tomorrow's game. Sizemore is a little easier as he posp up. 44 pitches through three innings, Cueto walks off the field upset with himself. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Bottom 3: Mark Berry is back after the passing of his father. After Hairston doubled, Griffey singled to right and Berry sent him home. I like the aggressive call. It took a great throw by Ben Francisco and a great play by Victor Martinez at the plate to get him. Saw Dave Storm and it is indeed DNA's version of Tom's Diner. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Top 4: Cueto rollin'. 1-3, 3-1, 8. Straight dealin'. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Bottom 4: Bako to the wall, but just missed. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Top 5: Cueto's not giving me much time to get any writing in. And now All I can do is wonder if I put him in the lineup for Royal Disappointment. I thought about skipping him. Ugh. Yep, left him on the bench. I'm still kicking myself for not drafting Volquez. I'd have the best of both worlds, him and Josh Hamilton. Speaking of racists -- KKK inning for Johnny K. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Bottom 5: Cueto was a step from his first hit, laying down a nice bunt, but Sowers got off in time to get it. Double for Freel. Francisco bobbled it and you could hear the crowd getting excited, but Berry threw up an emphatic stop sign and Freel followed directions. He was meat if he didn't. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 0

* Top 6: Casey blake breaks up the no-hitter and the shutout on one swing. Wow. There goes the 1-hitter. Pinch hitter Travis Hafner hit sthe foul pole in right. That's Hafner's 500th career RBI. That's Hafner's second-career pinch hit homer, his other was July 5, 2007 off Joe Mays. Jhonny Peralta ties it. Three hits, an error and a walk in that inning. Three homers and w're back to where we started. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 3

* Bottom 6: How fun is it to say 'Jorge Julio'? He's in for the Racist Mascots. Doesn't look fun to face him, two Ks and a popup. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 3

* Top 7: Burton in for Cueto. Cueto threw 96 pitches, 63 strikes. Remember when everyone loved Joey Votto and couldn't believe he wasn't playing every position? Well, a two-error game and you're booed. A double, intentional walk and E5 finishes Burton's night, Affeldt comes in with the bases loaded. Oh, got an email from Castrovince -- "P.S.: Cleveland doesn't have freaking cheerleaders. There's another difference for you." And Affeldt gets the grounder to end the inning. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 3

* Bottom 7: That's it for Affeldt as Ross pinch hits for him with two outs. He singles, raising his average to .286.

Man, what a great photo by David Kohl of the AP on the Hairston play from the third:

Yikes... Martinez is gonna pay. Foul ball off Hairston bounces in front of the plate and gets Martinez in "a tender spot."

And then Hairston leaves runners on. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 3

* Top 8: David Weathers in. A double by Francisco, but Weathers leaves him at third when he gets Asbrubal Cabrera to look at strike 3. Redlegs 3, Racist Mascots 3

* Bottom 8: In like the second or third inning, was talking to Freekbass about his upcoming tour with Bootsy Collins' Tribute to the Godfather of Soul, and between innings they played Groove Is In the Heart. Very nice. Hey, an American League double switch!. Perez out, Jamey carroll to second base and batting ninth (first in the top of the nighth) and Jensen Lewis pitching, in the seventh spot. Lewis is a Cincinnati native and went to college at Vanderbilt. Not a good night down on the farm. Homer Bailey went five innings, gave up four hits, four runs and walked six in a loss in the first game of a double header. Jay Bruce was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. So, all the people who write and send one day's stats for screaming that he needs to be up here now, does that one game mean he shouldn't be? Just curious. After Brandon Phillips walks, Votto hits a short double. Dellucci was playing really deep in left and the popup dropped right off the end of Casey Blake's glove for a double, Brandon Phillips roudned third, but because there was just one out, he couldn't get going enough to score on it. Walk to EE brings up Dunn with the bases loaded. This is big for Dunn -- he needs to get the run in. FSN just showed Dunn's game-winning grand slam from two years ago and all I could think of was how much better the new uniforms are than the sleeveless pinstriped ones. Also, they just put the "Loud Noises" clip from Anchorman up, which is funny, considering Dunn and I were talking about how much we love that movie earlier today. And man, do I have to pee. That 1-2 pitch just missed Dunn on the front shoulder, an inch and the Reds would have the lead. Not sure I want Dunn there with a full count. With three balls, he may watch something, I'd expect him to be more aggressive 2-2 than 3-2. But, well, he walks. His second RBI of the night. I was just about to type "Bako can put this one out of reach" but we've all seen that may not be the case. Either way, Cordero is up and getting loose to close it out. And I've really, really gotta pee. Fielder's choice for Bako, 3-2. That brings up Scott Hatteberg. Redlegs 4, Racist Mascots 3

* Top 9: Good god, my eyes were watering -- although that may have been backup. Much, much better now. Janish in at short, Hairston in left. And another racist inning finishes it off -- KKK (well, the first two are dyslexic racists). And this one belongs to the Reds