UPDATE (6:35): first pitch is now scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and the tarp is coming off

Redlegs

1. Jerry Hairston Jr. cf
   
2. Jeff Keppinger ss
3. Ken Griffey Jr. rf
4. Prandon Phillips 2b
5. Edwin Encarnacion 3b
6. Joey Votto 1b
7. Jay Bruce lf
8. David Ross c
9. Johnny Cueto p

Former Redlegs

1. Roger Bernadina cf
2. Cristian Guzman ss
3. Elijah Dukes lf
4. Dmitri Young 1b
5. Austin Kearns rf
6. Ronnie Belliard 3b
7. Jesus Flores c
8. Willie Harris 2b
9. John Lannan p

* Andy Phillips was claimed off waivers and put on the Reds' roster. Daryl Thompson was optioned to Class AAA Louisville.

"It's the right thing to do, send me down and work on it down there," Thompson said. "It's better to work on it down there than up here."

Thompson was told before Thursday's game he'd be headed back to Louisville.

"I've got stuff to work on, the stuff they said I knew I had to work on, I figured they would tell me I had work on and it's all true," Thompson said. "I can't fix that stuff up here. The object up here is to pitch and win. If I come up here and my stuff's not what it's supposed to be, we're going to have a lot of losing ball games."

In his first start, Thompson threw five shutout innings at Yankee Stadium. He pitched well in his second outing last week in Cleveland. On Wednesday, he got shelled, allowing four first-inning runs and seven overall.

"They told me they were proud of me and I opened up eyes, it's just that they want me to be up here and be successful," Thompson said. "They don't wnat me to have nights like last night. I have to execute."

Thompson's velocity was down from his usual mid-90s to 89-90 against the Pirates on Wednesday.

"This is the second or third time this season it's happened," Thompson said. "My arm feels fine, I throw like I have been, it just doesn't come out."

Despite his rough outing against the Pirates, Reds manager Dusty Baker was impressed.

“He’s close, he’s real close. Most guys with his experience have command problems, throwing strikes. He was throwing strikes, just up in the zone, middle of the plate strikes,” Baker said. “He’s real close and he’s not afraid and he has tremendous desire and athleticism. For his best sake, he’s one of our guys that’s really in our future plans. We’ve just got to tighten his slider up a little bit and that will make everything better.

"This is a situation where he’ll go down and work and he’ll be back. Hopefully when he comes back he’ll be back for a long time and be part of our young guns we’ve got coming up here. Some are already here and if we can get two or three out of five in a short period of time, you get another one here, another one there, and the next thing you know we’re at the top of the league in pitching."

Baker said they weren't sure of their pitching plans after the day off on Monday. If the Reds stay on rotation, they wouldn't need a fifth starter until Saturday.

* There's been a gametime change for July 19 against the Mets. The game will start at 7:40 p.m.

* The Former Reds activated former Red Austin Kearns from the disabled list on Thursday. Kearns was put on the DL on May 22 with a right elbow injury and had arthroscopic surgery the next day to remove loose bodies.

* When talking about today's lineup, Baker said Hairston and Keppinger at the top of the lineup is "ideal."

"With both of them back, we’re going to have to plunk one guy in or whatever we have to do to have the best lineup that day," Baker said. "It was a lot easier in the American League when you have the DH and can play everybody."

Reds owner Bob Castellini went to Dusty Baker's office following Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to the Pirates and offered a pep talk to his first-year manager.

"He just said to keep doing what you can do," Baker said, "not to get my head down."

When asked if Castellini seemed frustrated following the dropped series to the Pirates that put the Reds back solidly into last place, Baker said, "we're all frustrated."

With the loss, the Reds are now 12-23 against teams with a losing record and 27-24 against teams with winning records. The 34-52 Nationals come to Great American Ball Park on Thursday for a four-game series.

At 39-47 overall, the Reds are 12 games out of first place in the National League Central, while the Pirates moved in front of the Astros for fourth place in the six-team division.

Reds starter Daryl Thompson's Great American Ball Park debut couldn't have been more different than his big league debut a week-and-a-half ago at Yankee Stadium.

Thompson threw five scoreless inning against the Yankees in a 5-0 Reds victory in front of a sell-out crowd at the historic venue. Wednesday night he heard boos from the home crowd before he recorded an out -- allowing four runs in the first inning and seven overall in 4.1 innings and picked up his second loss of his career in front of 16,890.

"It was bad," Thompson said of his performance. "I was throwing a lot of strikes and I had nothing on my fastball tonight and they came out ready to swing. I couldn't get the ball down in the zone like I wanted to and they made me pay for it."

The first five batters of the Pirates lineup recorded hits off of Thompson in the first inning and the first four scored. Pittsburgh centerfielder Nate McLouth led off the game with a double followed by another double by Luis Rivas to score the first run.

Jason Bay, Ryan Doumit and Xavier Nady all followed with singles, while Adam LaRoche and Jose Bautista followed with RBI groundouts before Pirate starter John Van Benschoten lined out to end the inning.

"He couldn't keep the ball down and didn't locate," Baker said. "His secondary pitches were better, but he couldn’t get that primary pitch -- that fastball – under control."

Thompson gave up three more runs, each on Xavier Nady homers -- a solo shot in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

"When you go out there and you don't have your stuff, you've got to battle through it," Thompson said. "It's not the first time this has happened, I just didn't battle through it like I really wanted to. I tried and tried, but I couldn’t keep the ball down like I wanted to."

Van Benschoten, a Milford native and resident of Ludlow, Ky., couldn't capitalize for the win, allowing three home runs in his 2.1 innings -- solo shots to Jay Bruce and Adam Dunn and a three-run homer by Bruce for the rookie's first career multihomer game.

Following the Reds' four-run second inning, the Pirate bullpen silenced Cincinnati's bats, allowing just a Ken Griffey Jr. single in the fifth and a pinch-hit double by Javier Valentin in the ninth, while Pittsburgh added on runs in the seventh and ninth.

"We're just going to keep plugging along and we'll get better," Bruce said. "They came in and did some damage control and pitched well. It was a tough break tonight."

With scouts in the stands watching David Weathers for a possible trade to a contender, the veteran-right hander gave up two runs in the 11th inning and took the loss as Cincinnati fell 6-5 to the Pirates at Great American Ball Park.

However, for any team out there interested in the 38-year old reliever, there is this stat to consider -- in 18 appearances at Great American Ball Park this season, Weathers has an ERA of 6.07. In 18 appearances in other parks, his ERA is 2.20.

"You feel like if you give your guys a chance and put up a zero right there, we're going to win the game," Weather said. "And unfortunately I pitched terrible."

Weathers had a 1.17 ERA in his last eight appearances and had a 3.28 ERA in 27 appearances since coming off the disabled list on May 5. With reports of scouts in the stands to see Weathers, a free agent after the season, he gave up a double, triple and single in the 11th to pinch hitter Xavier Nady, shortstop Jack Wilson and centerfielder Nate McLouth, respectively.  Ken Griffey Jr. made a diving attempt at Wilson’s ball, missed it and it rolled to the wall for a triple.

"Tonight I thought I made decent pitches. Jack Wilson throws that little thing in right field, Griff made an unbelievable effort to get to it. Sometimes you throw that kind of effort out that Griff did and you come up short," Weathers said. "That's the type of effort you love to see. I just haven't pitched well at home, I don't know what the numbers are. It seems when I come here, I don't get it done."

Lefty Jeremy Affeldt, another candidate to be traded, struck out Ryan Doumit to end the top of the 11th.

It turns out, a zero by Weathers would have been enough for the Reds, who managed a run off Pittsburgh's Romulo Sanchez, who nonetheless recorded his first career save.

"It was a well-fought game, it wasn't a well-played game, but it was well fought," Baker said.

Jay Bruce singled with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but after a walk to pinch hitter Norris Hopper and a single by Jerry Hairston Jr. brought the Reds to within a run, Corey Patterson  to fly out to end the game with Monday's hero, Ken Griffey Jr. on deck and Phillips behind him.

Phillips tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning and a single in the 10th.

"I thought (Phillips) was going to win the game, he tied it up and I knew he was going to win it too," Baker said.

Edinson Volquez pitched better than his last outing -- a drubbing in Toronto -- but wasn't spectacular, either, giving up seven hits and three runs in 5.1 innings. He was on the hook for the loss until Phillips' home run.

In the top of the 10th, Jared Burton walked Jason Bay and after intentionally walking Adam LaRoche, Jason Michaels doubled, scoring Bay.

That set up Phillips again. After Adam Dunn's leadoff double and then Patterson, pinch running, scored on a Brandon Phillips single. However, Phillips' ball down the third-base line went off the glove of Pirates' third baseman Jose Bautista and Wilson was able to track it down and throw Phillips out at second for the second out of the inning.

"That was a great play by Jack Wilson, I thought it was a sure double," Baker said. "Jack Wilson hustled after, turned and threw it on the money. That's an All-Star play right there."

It was the second time in the game Phillips was thrown out at second in the game. In the fourth inning he singled, but was then picked off by Pirate starter Zach Duke. Joey Votto followed with a double, costing the Reds a run.

"Yeah, well, that's why they call it stealing," Baker said. "That's going to happen if you're stealing sometimes. That's why it's called 'stealing' because you're going to get caught sometime. I want our guys to be aggressive like that. We thought he balked, but it showed he didn't balk, it was just a good move on his part."

The Reds had runners on third in the first two innings, Hairston was stranded in the first and Votto was thrown out at the plate in the second. Votto was also stranded at second in the fourth and the Reds managed only one run in the sixth with bases loaded.

In the fourth, Phillips recorded his first of four RBIs on the day with a fielder's choice, but Votto and Jeff Keppinger grounded out to end the inning.

In all, the Reds left nine runners on and went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

"We left a lot of men on base in key situations early in the game, it seems like the norm especially when we play them -- yesterday and the series in Pittsburgh," Baker said. "We've got to pick up those gimmie RBIs."

Milford native John Van Bencschoten starts Wednesday's game. Van Benschoten is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA and allowed nine hits and seven runs in his only start of the season. He has an 8.45 ERA in 15 career big league starts. Daryl Thompson makes his first start at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday and both teams will be careful with their bullpen after using a combined 15 pitchers on Tuesday.

* Top 1: Canada Day has been known as the anniversary of Confederation, Dominion Day and later Canada Day. It had been informally called Canada Day until it was switched in Oct. of 1982 following the adoption of the Canada Act earlier in the year. Edinson Volquez goes 1-2-3. Vottos 0, Bays 0

* Bottom 1: Canada Day is often refered to as "Canada's Birthday" -- it celebrates the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Providence of Canada (which was divided in the process into Ontario and Qubec). Jerry Hairston Jr. doesn't just hit on Canada Day -- he seems to hit every day. He leads off with a single. Dunn hits one softly to first, too soft for LaRoche to try a double play, or even get Hairston, so Dunn does his job to get the runner over. Then Hairston steals third. Junior grounds out to short witht he infield in. Could it be two nights in a row the Reds get their leadoff guy on and just leave them on the bases? Just brutal. Now that they've found a leadoff guy in Hairston, they've got to get more production from the heart of the order. Phillips hits a rope, but Jack Wilson snags it. Another leadoff hit wasted. Vottos 0, Bays 0

 * Top 2: What is now Canada Day was established in 1868 by then Governor General Lord Monck asking Canadians to "celebrate the anniversary of the confederation." Adam LaRoche sounds like he could be Canadian, but he's not. He's from Kansas. Doesn't he sound like he's from Quebec? Anyway, Doug Mientkiewicz is playing right tonight. Seems odd. Here's a guy known as one of the premier defensive first basemen in baseball. Well, LaRoche is so bad defensively he can't play anywhere but first. Mientkiewicz played third last night and for much of the season. He played left in spring, but only right during the season and has been shaky there. We'll see if he continues to play right after running into Votto, running inside the first base line, and nubber down the third-base line. He went down grabbing his left hamstring. You just don't mess with Joey Votto on Canada Day. Nice play by Encarnaicion. Hitting the pitcher eighth doesn't help here as Bautista is intentionally walked to bring up Duke. And he can't do anything with Volquez. Vottos 0, Bays 0

 * Bottom 2: Jennifer Welsh, a professor of International relations at the University of Oxford, said "Canada Day, like the country, is endlessly decentralized. There doesn't seem to be a central recipe for how to celebrate it – chalk it up to the nature of the federation." Joey Votto celebrates Canada Day by raking. He singles to lead off the inning. Edwin Encarnacion hits a blooper to right, and Doug Mientkiewicz says, 'take that Rosecrans' with a great diving catch. Bruce flies out. Ross doubles and Mark Berry has about the same idea of Mientkiewicz in the outfield that I did and sends Joey Votto. Instead, it's a perfect 9-6-2 to nail Votto at the plate. That's no way to celebrate Canada Day. Vottos 0, Bays 0

 * Top 3: Since 2006, London (England, not Ontario) has hosted Canada Day celebrations on Trafalgar Square, home of the Canada House, and featured Canadian performers and street hockey. Jack Wilson, batting ninth instead of eighth, leads off with a single to left. After a flyout by McLouth, a Volquez ball goes in the dirt, blocked by Ross and he throws Wilson out trying to advance easily. The ball seemed to bounce right into Ross' throwing hand. And Sanchez Ks. Vottos 0, Bays 0

* Bottom 3: Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, celebrate the International Freedom Festival with a fireworks display celebrating both Canada Day and Independence Day. Fort Erie, Onterio and Buffalo also share a celebration for the two holiday neighbours. Not only was that Mientkiewicz's first career outfield assist in the last inning, Volquez was up next, so you can't really blame Mark Berry for sending Votto. 1-2-3 for the Redlegs. Vottos 0, Bays 0

* Top 4: If Canada Day falls on a Sunday, the statutory holuday is July 2, but celebrations are still held on July 1. Edinson Volquez has no interest in Canada Day, striking out Jason Bay. Mientkiewicz must have gone all Bruce Banner/Hulk on us after running into Votto. After that weak grounder, he's made a diving catch, recorded his first outfield assist and singled. Interesting note from Atlanta -- the Phillies have sent Brett Myers to Class AAA. A double by Bautista scores LaRoche and then Mark Wegner misses the call and calls Mientkiewicz out at home on the 9-4-2. Bays 1, Vottos 0

* Bottom 4: Because of its roots in federalization, Canada Day celebrations in Quebec can get testy. Phillips singles, then pulls a Freel. As he's running, he points toward the umpire, aparently looking for a balk call. And he woulda been on third after a Votto Canada Day double. I'd called a homer, but, well, I was a couple of meters short (it is Canada day afterall). Encarnacion pops up -- sounds like he broke his bat. Bays 1, Vottos 0

* Top 5: Queen Elizabeth II attended Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa in 1990, 1992, and 1997. With two outs, McLouth breaks an 0-for-10 streak with a double over the head of Jay Bruce in center. But Sanchez grounds out to end the inning. Bays 1, Vottos 0

* Bottom 5: On Canada Day in 1980 "O Canada" was officially established as the country's national anthem. 1-2-3 for the bottom of the Reds order. Bays 1, Vottos 0

* Top 6: Chinese-Candians referred to July 1 as "Humiliation Day" after the enactment of the Chinese Immigration Act in 1923. It was repealed in 1947. A historic photo could have been had as Jason Bay walked to lead off the inning and was at first with Votto. That's followed by a single to center from Doumit and Bruce threw through to third instead of hitting the cutoff man and Doumit took second on the throw. A single to center and Encarnacion made a great play after a cutoff, dove to tag Doumit who ran through a stop sign, then stopped. Third base umpire Chad Fairchild missed the call (although he had a tough angle on it), Encarnacion objected and he was quickly tossed. Replays seemed to show Encarnacion tagged him twice before he got to the bag, on the butt and the leg. Keppinger in to play third. Sac fly by Mientkiewicz. That's it for Volquez. He won't get his 11th win. Mike Lincoln in. Grounder back up the middle by Bautista -- Lincoln sees LaRoche too far to third, runs him back and it's a 1-6-5 putout. Heads-up play by Bautista to take second. But again, Duke is up abtting eighth. He Ks. Bays 3, Vottos 0

* Bottom 6: In parts of Nova Scotia, a beaver stew is the traditional Canada Day meal. The tail is used as garnish. Leadoff walk by Hariston. Another walk by Dunn. Griffey singles on the first pitch, loading the bases for Philips, who has been kiling lefties this year. That's why John Russell is bringing in right-hander Denny Bautista. Phillips grounds it to LaRoche, but he was going to beat Bautista to the bag, so no chance for a double play. A run scores, RBI for Phillips. Grabow on to pitch for the Reds. One out, men on first and third for Mr. Canada, Joey Votto. No beaver stew for Votto, as he hits a nubber out in front of hte plate. Doumit's throw is high, but LaRoche gets it and Dunn isn't able to score. I'd walk Keppinger. He smokes one, but Jose Bautista makes a nice play. Bases loaded, no outs, with four, five, six up and the Reds get one run. Bays 3, Vottos 1

 * Top 7: Dominion Day, and later Canada Day, became mor eimportant as Canadian patriotism rose following the centennial in 1867. Leadoff single by Jack Wilson and a walk to Nate McLouth. Two strikeouts and a Canada Day to forget for Jason Bay with a flyout get the Reds out of the inning. Bays 3, Vottos 1

 * Bottom 7: Since 1980, the Canadian government has given grants and aid to cities across the country to put on Canada Day celebrations. Bruce goes down looking. Paul Bako is on-deck to pinch hit. Ross walks. Bako Ks and htat's it for Grabow and in comes right-hander Tyler Yates. Another inning ends on a hard-hit ball. Jerry Hairston hits one on the nose, but Jack Wilson gobbles it up to end the inning. Bays 3, Vottos 1

 * Top 8: Canada's Governor General routinely presides over Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa's Parliament Hill. Bill Bray in and apparently he's LaRoche's kryptonite. LaRoche Ks, the first time he hasn't reached base tonight. Jason Michaels in for Mientkiewicz. Michaels takes a ride on the K train as well. And Bautista flies out. It's only 9:47? It feels so much later. Bays 3, Vottos 1

 * Bottom 8: Every year on Canada Day, the prime minister of Canada drinks from the Stanley Cup. If he belches, there's only three more weeks of summer. Dunn Ks looking. Double for Griffey. Is this setting up for a Canada Day miracle? Well, a wild pitch and then Phillips homers to tie the game. Votto can go back-to-back for the easy story. Or he can ground out to second. So can Keppinger. Vottos 3, Bays 3

 * Top 9: Citizenship ceremonies for new citizens are popular on Canada Day. As is the importantion of guys named 'Coco.' Cordero's son has been around the clubhouse lately. He's like 4 and the spitting image of his father. I'd expect him to be throwing 95 out of the womb. Seriously, he looks like a minime version of Cordero. Chris Gomez pinch hitting, and with Phillips playing him up the middle, he hits it to right for a single. Wilson squares to bunt and Cordero throws it up and in. He does get the bunt down, but Votto makes a nice play to get Gomez at second. A beautifully called pitchout. With a 1-1 pitch, there's a pitchout called and Wilson is toast. And then another defensive gem on Canada Day for Votto. Vottos 3, Bays 3

 * Bottom 9: With little ice available, the official sport of Canada Day is water hockey. It's like water polo, but there are more fights. Sean Burnett in for the Pirates -- the sixth pitcher of the night for Pittsburgh. And a guy with an 8.31 ERA, one start and 8.2 innings pitched in five appearances on the hill tomorrow -- in his one start, John Van Benschoten went four innings, allowed nine hits and seven runs (six earned). In his 15 career starts, he has an ERA of 8.45. Jay Bruce singles and David Ross up in another big ninth-inning spot. Last night he doubled to lead off the ninth, setting up Griffey's homer. He's squaring to bunt here. Javier Valentin on deck. A nice sac bunt for Ross. It also keeps the double play out of play. I'd have sent up Hopper. With LaRoche on first and a lefty on the mound, I'd give him at least an 80 percent shot at a bunt single. Looks like he's getting ready to pinch run for Valentin, which, well, I guess would be important if Valentin walks, maybe it would guard against the double play. And Valentin pops out. But you do have Hairston up. Hairston swings at the first pich and Wilson is able to make the play. Looks like Burton is going to be in and I'll have to really search for more Canada Day facts. Vottos 3, Bays 3

* Top 10: In Canada, holidays are legislated on the national, provincial and territorial levels. Because Canadians observe Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays, the Canadian worker can get as many as 53 holidays in one year. Jason Bay, pride of Trail B.C., walks with one out. With two outs and first base open, LaRoche is intentionally walked to bring up Michaels who jumps on the first pitch to score Bay with a double. Votto is the fourth batter scheduled up in the bottom of the inning -- keep that in mind. Bays 4, Vottos 3

 * Bottom 10: In Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1 is observed as Memorial Day. Matt Capps in for the save. A leadoff double for Dunn, Patterson in to run, bringing up Junior. No way he can do it two nights in a row, can he? All four of Capps' blown saves this season have come since June 10. He converted his first 15. He hit a charge into one -- to deep center, and I nearly thought he got it, but it's a sac fly. It's all setting up for Joey Votto. It's like three or four years ago when Juan Castro hit the walk-off homer on Cinco de Mayo. Phillips singles to third, the ball went off Bautista's glove, scoring Patterson, but then Phillips was thorwn out at second. Capps' fifth save. Or not. Vottos 4, Bays 4.

* Top 11: Charles Monck, the first Governor General of Canada after confederation, was married to his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Louise Mary Monck and they had seven children, four of whom lived to adulthood. Double to lead off the inning by Xavier Nady. Gregg Doyel of CBS Sportsline was here writing something and commented earlier that he was bummed he missed Xavier Nady. Well, he didn't stick around long enough to see him. Jack Wilson hit one to short right and Ken Griffey Jr. ill-advisedly dove, missed the ball and gave up a triple. Nate McLouth followed with a single for another run. After two 6-3s, Weathers is out. Affeldt is in and the Reds' seventh pitcher of the night, 14th pitcher overall -- and that's with the Pirates already having pinch-hit for Capps. Affeldt Ks Doumit. Bays 6, Vottos 4

* Bottom 11: After Monck's term ended in 1868, he immediately returned to his native Ireland. Keppinger grounds out. Bruce singles and Ross is up. Hopper's the only guy left on the bench, and he's on deck. Ross hits one on the nose, but a nice play by McLouth in center. It's Hopper. He walks. Hairston singles in Bruce. Hopper to third and guess who it is.... Corey Patterson and he flies out to left. 3 hours, 57 minutes. Funny, it didn't seem like a minute over 6 hours. And this one belongs to the Bays, eh.

Redlegs

1. Jerry Hairston Jr. ss
2. Adam Dunn lf
3. Ken Griffey Jr. rf
4. Brandon Phillips 2b
5. Joey Votto 1b
6. Edwin Encarnacion 3b
7. Jay Bruce cf
8. David Ross c
9. Edinson Volquez p

Peglegs

1. Nate McLouth cf
2. Freddy Sanchez 2b
3. Jason Bay lf
4. Ryan Doumit c
5. Adam LaRoche 1b
6. Doug Mientkiewicz rf
7. Jose Bautista 3b
8. Zach Duke p
9. Jack Wilson p

* Jeff Keppinger gets the day off, Hairston starting at short.

"It's not a matter of rest as much as I went from not enough shrotstops to a lot of shortstops," Baker said. "I had a meeting with him and Jerry (Hairston) today and told them I'm going to try to find a way to play everybody, but not have anybody out more than a couple of days. We'd like to have him and Jerry both in there, we've probably got nine or 10 guys you'd play every day where before we were scuffling."

Keppinger said he understands.

"I guess I'm the odd man out today," Keppinger said.

* John Van Benschoten will start tomorrow for the Pirates.

A Milford native, Van Benschoten had never been to Great American Ball Park, but grew up going to the old stadium and listening ot the games on the radio.

"It's still a big thing, it's the same city but a new ballpark," Van Benschoten said. "It means a lot, seeing the (microphones) for Nuxy and Marty. THat means a lot, because I grew up on the radio, listening to them. It'll be neat (to hear Marty talk about him). I'll just treat it like another start."