* Top 1: Leadoff single for Pierre. Man, what a great day. 72 degrees at gametime. Which reminds me -- actually, it doesn't, it's just a good way to flow into this topic -- I'm moving in the next month or so, and the best part is I'm finally going to have a place where I can have a grill. So, I'll be in the market for a grill -- any suggestions? Arroyo hit Jeff Kent -- but Martin hit into a fielder's choice, 6-4. It took a tough hop on Cabrera, so the Reds couldn't turn two. Wild pitch is a run. And what do you know? Next one is a groundout. Ain't that always the way? 16 pitches for Arroyo. Trolley Dodgers 1, Redlegs 0

 * Bottom 1: Rickey Henderson Jr. with the single to lead it off for the Redlegs. And a DP. A walk for Bruce, who has now walked as many times in 22 big league games as he did in 49 games at AAA. Just odd. Phillips is really struggling. In his last 13 games he's 8-for-52. Make that 8-for-53 with that K. Trolley Dodgers 1, Redlegs 0

* Top 2: Another leadoff single. Kemp steals second -- Ross lost his grip on the ball, was able to recover and throw to secodn and nearly get him, but Cabrera dropped the ball. He would have gotten him without his bobble, but Cabrera's didn't kill 'em. A single by Ehtier makes it 2-0. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Bottom 2: An absolute rocket off the bat of Encarnacion -- his 12th homer of the season puts the Redlegs on the board. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 1

* Yeah...

Went out to the stands to see some firends who are in from out of town. Man, what a perfect night for being at a baseball game -- I mean, raelly being at a game, in the stands with a couple of friends and a few beers (well, I had friends, not beers). Really nice.

The Reds? Not so much. It's 4-1 and Arroyo just left after 6.1 with runners on second and third. Affeldt in to face the top of the lineup. A triple by Pierre over Patterson's head. But a nice job by Ross to pick Pierre off of third -- 2-5-2-6. Trolley Dodgers 6, Redlegs 1

* Bottom 7: Norris Hopper to lead off the inning for Patterson, even though there's a lefty on the mound and Patterson is so good against lefties. And Hopper singles. Andy Phillips on for Affeldt. He strikes out. Then Votto Ks. Oh, and it was Corey Brinn and Andy Assaley that I visited in the stands. Happy Andy? Trolley Dodgers 6, Redlegs 1

* Top 8: Gary Majewski in. And Gary Majewski done with a walk and that's it. Trolley Dodgers 6, Redlegs 1

* Bottom 8: My friend Andy respectfully asks that the "Bruuuuuuce" chant stop.  I'm not a fan, either. I told him it's better, because it prepares Bruce for the inevitable point when Bruce will get booed for any move he makes. Phillips came into tonight hitting .350 against lefties and is 2-for-2 against Kuo tonight. Good new for him there's a lefty starting tomorrow. Trolley Dodgers 6, Redlegs 1

* Top 9: Majewski back in. After a leadoff single by ithier, that's as good of a 4-3 DP as you'll ever see -- Phillips on the shortstop side of the bag, slides make the stop, gets up, tags the bag, leaps over Ethier and makes the throw to get Berroa. Wow. Trolley Dodgers 6, Redlegs 1

* Bottom 9: Yep. Dodgers.

Jeff Keppinger is taking BP right now and Norris Hopper looks like he'll be after him.

Both are in the house, we'll see what that means in a little bit.

* Last night, not only did the Billings Mustangs win, but Doug Gray reports the $2 million kid, Juan Duran, made his debut in the Domincan Summer League, going 0-for-2 with a HBP, walk and strikeout.

* And, well, we got lineups

Redlegs

1. Joey Votto 1b
2. Jolbert Cabrera ss
3. Jay Bruce rf
4. Brandon Phillips 2b
5. Adam Dunn lf
6. Edwin Encarnacion 3b
7. Corey Patterson cf
8. David Ross c
9. Bronson Arroyo p

Trolley Dodgers

1. Juan Pierre lf
2. Blake DeWitt 3b
3. Jeff Kent 2b
4. Russell Martin c
5. James Loney 1b
6. Matt Kemp cf
7. Andre Ethier rf
8. Angel Berroa ss
9. Derek Lowe p

* Ken Griffey Jr. is still sick. He said he has "flu-like symptoms" and has trouble focusing on things far away, and thinks that may be dehydration. Baker said he doesn't expect Griffey to play today or tomorrow.

When asked if he could still pinch hit, Griffey said: "Hopefully not -- hopefully we'll have a enough runs that I don't have to."

* Baker also said Jeff Keppinger may be ready for the Cleveland series. Keppinger told him his legs are still sore, and he'd hoped for the New York series. Baker doesn't want to bring him back on artificial turf in Toronto, so is aiming for Cleveland or the following series at home against Pittsburgh.

Hopper, he said, is "much closer" to returning.

* As for Votto leading off, Baker said it was temporary and against the lefty Eric Stults tomorrow, they'll probably do something different.

When we were waiting for Votto, he saw us and said, "They want to talk to Rickey?" Of course he was referring to Rickey Henderson, the greatest lead-off batter of all time, who also liked to speak in the third person.

Speaking in the third person is just as new to Votto as leading off.

"I can’t remember ever doing it,” Votto said. “(Baker) said do the same thing I always do, just do it form the leadoff spot.”

I asked him if he took notes with Jacoby Ellsbury the other day, getting on and then stealing second and third.

“Pay attention, I expect to steal second, third and then home,” Votto said with a laugh. “No.”

* From the Reds:

Prior to tonight’s game, the Reds returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 15-day disabled list OF Norris Hopper and optioned to Class AAA Louisville RHP Homer Bailey.

Hopper has been on the 15-day DL since 4/23 with a nerve irritation in his right elbow...in 6 rehab apps at Louisville and Sarasota he is hitting .292 (7-24).

Bailey went 0-3, 8.76 in 3 starts for the Reds.

The Reds have not named a starting pitcher for Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium.

 

Baker said there'd be another move for Saturday.

Hopper helps immediately for the team's bench and will likely start tomorrow leading off against lefty Eric Stults.

"It gives me versatility in the outfield I didn’t have last night,” Baker said. “We’ve got a left-hander tomorrow and I don’t think Junior’s going to be available tomorrow either.”

Bailey threw his sceduled bullpen session with Dick Pole. Pole wanted to work with Bailey before sending him down.

“Dick wanted him to throw a pen with him,” Baker said. “It’s his pen day.”

Reds rookie starter Johnny Cueto was good Tuesday night, but the Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley was better.

Billingsley struck out nine Reds in 6.1 innings, leading Los Angeles to a 3-1 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park, snapping the Dodgers' five-game losing streak.

Cueto went seven innings, allowed two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out two. It was Cueto's eighth quality start of the season and third in his last four starts.

"(Billingsley) shut us down both times he's faced us this year. It's bad when you don't score runs," Red manager Dusty Baker said. "We had some opportunities to score some runs and we didn't get it done."

Billingsley struck out every Reds starter but Adam Dunn before leaving with bases loaded in the seventh inning up 2-0. Dodger manager Joe Torre brought in left-hander Joe Beimel to face pinch-hitter Javier Valentin. Valentin grounded out to first baseman James Loney, but Loney bobbled the ball and could'’t turn the double play, allowing one run to score. Leadoff man Corey Patterson grounded out to second to end the inning and the Reds' best threat of the night.

On Ken Griffey Jr. day at Great American Ball Park, Griffey was available only to pinch hit in the ninth because of illness. That left the Reds very short on outfielders, with Norris Hopper on a rehab assignment in Louisville and Ryan Freel on the disabled list.

Andy Phillips, Joey Votto and Jolbert Cabrera have all played the outfield, but Votto hadn't played there since last season, Phillips hasn't played in the outfield since spring training and Cabrera played 16 games in right field and two in left field for the Bats this season.

"(I'm) very limited in my outfield, I don't think (Andy) Phillips has played outfield since spring training. I know everyone out there is wondering why I didn't pinch-hit for Corey there in the seventh, but Corey has traditionally been better against left-handers than right-handers in his career and I was limited in my outfield," Baker said. "I didn't have Junior today and I had a couple of situations where I really didn't want to put guys out there who haven't played out there, because that ball will find you. With the roster we have now, you're kind of stuck on what you can do and when you can do it. It's easy to say put somebody out there, it just doesn't work like that."

The stats don't exactly match Baker's statement -- in his career, Patterson is hitting .261 against right-handed pitchers and .240 against left-handed pitchers, and he came into Tuesday's game hitting .197 against right-handers and .172 against left-handers.

"Check the numbers last year and a couple of years ago, that's the case,” Patterson said when asked about his hitting left-handers. "Sometimes, that's how it is. I don't have a rhyme or reason for it, but that's just how it is sometimes. I can't really explain it."

Last season, Patterson hit .261 against left-handers and .240 against right-handers. He also had a better batting average against lefties in 2004 and as a rookie in 2001.

Regardless, Patterson got another chance in the ninth inning against Dodgers right-handed closer Takashi Saito with Votto on first. Patterson hit one hard, but right at first baseman James Loney for the final out of the game. With his lead-off single in the first (which was followed by a caught stealing), Patterson's average stayed at .193.

"I thought I had some good at-bats, I thought I hit the ball hard the first at-bat and got a hit, last at-bat I hit it hard, just at somebody," Patterson said. "I don't concern myself on results, I know people who look at results and study charts and comparisons and do all that, but if I have the right approach -- and it's cliché but so true -- if you have the right approach and mindset, as a player you don't care about the result. You know if you can constantly do that coming into the season, you'll have your results.

"In the meantime, we all go through ups and downs, you can't worry about results -- I grounded out, I swung at a ball a little but outside and stuck out because of that -- or you're only going to dig yourself in a hole deeper. I've been in this situation before. Can I be playing better? Yes, without a doubt. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself or make excuses, I've just got to keep playing the game and find something that's consistent that works for me."

Ken Griffey Jr. was honored before the game in a nice ceremony and a sign in right field for 600.

There was a video tribute with taped messages from Ryan Howard, Chipper Jones, Johnny Bench and Hank Aaron. Thom Brennaman read a letter from Bud Selig.

Reds owner Bob Castellini also spoke, giving his batting helmet to the Hall of Fame and his batting gloves to the Reds Hall of Fame. Castellini mentioning the group Junior joins in the 600 club, omitted two -- Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. It wasn't a coincidence -- Castellini then mentioned that Griffey has "done it the right way."

"Wow," Griffey said as he walked up the mic. "No, I'm not going to cry. I've been here, it's my ninth year here and the team we have assembled here is probably the best team we've had here. With a little luck, my dad was here and won three world championships, with a little luck, we can win one and I want to be a part of it."

"I just want to thank everyone for coming here. It's been awesome. It's been up and down, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

His wife, three kids and mother joied him on the field. He also gave shout-outs to Adam Dunn and Jay Bruce.

* Top 1: 1-2-3 for Cueto. Redlegs 0, Trolley Dodgers 0

Looks like there's going to be video tributes throughout the game. After the top of the 1st, we had Gary Sheffield and Nomar Garciaparra.

An announcement on the Dodgers' pitching rotation was just announced -- Lowe tomorrow and Eric Stoltz on Thursday, not Clayton Kershaw.

 * Bottom 1: Good news: Corey Patterson gets a hit. Bad news: Corey Patterson caught stealing. And then Cabrera walks. Bruce Ks. Yeah. Redlegs 0, Trolley Dodgers 0

* Top 2: 4-5-6. Redlegs 0, Trolley Dodgers 0

* Bottom 2: Dunn leads off with a single to left, then three Ks in a row. Redlegs 0, Trolley Dodgers 0

* Top 3: Walk to former ROY Angel Berroa. Nice play by Cabrera on the sac -- Berroa thought about going to third, but after seeing the ball was going to first and the corner infielders were crashing, Cabrera made sure to follow Berroa to keep him at second. It ends up not mattering as Pierre doubles in the run past a diving Adam Dunn. Trolley Dodgers 1, Redlegs 0

* Bottom 3: That was quick. 1-2-3 for the Dodgers. However, there is good news, checked my email and the new Hold Steady album is available on iTunes, so it's downloading now. Trolley Dodgers 1, Redlegs 0

* Top 4: I do love a good hit and run -- double for Martin and Kent scores. But that's it, because after loading the bases with a walk to Ethier, Berroa hits into a 6-4-3 DP. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

 Joe Torre now doing a spot for Junior.

* Bottom 4: Would you ever thing that Chad Billingsley (or any pitcher for that matter) would have eight strikeouts through four innings, and none of them would be of Adam Dunn? So, Edwin Encarnacion fouled off a pitch from Billingsley and lost the handle on his bat. Billingsley got the bat and handed it to Encarnacion, dunno why, it just seemed odd to see a batter and pitcher that close to each other during an at-bat. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Top 5: Nice job buy Cueto -- when a speedy guy tries to lay down a bunt on you -- throw in. He did that to Pierre. 1-2-3 inning and 79 pitches for Cueto. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Bottom 5: Wouldn't it be awesome if this was done by sunset? A boy can dream, ya know? Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Top 6: Another hit, a leadoff single for Kent, but a quick DP gets them out of that. 97 pitches for Cueto. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Bottom 6: A K and long flies, but still nothing for the Redlegs. 86 pitches for Billingsley. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Top 7: We're at the stretch and there's still natural light (and not the crappy beer). Quick inning for Cueto, but with 109 pitches, he's probably done for the night -- especially if the Reds can get to his spot in the lineup (it'd be a no-brainer then. and really, probably should be now). Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 0

* Bottom 7: Dunn flies out to keep his streak alive. Then back-to-back singles by EE and Votto. Bako goes 3-0 then looks at strike 1 and swings at 2 before walking to bring up Javier Valentin for Cueto. And that's it for Billingsley and that'sit for Billingsley, who got every Red starter but Dunn. Lefty Joe Beimel in. Javy goes into the dugout for his right-handed helmet and bat. He grounds ot Loney at first and in his haste, Loney drops the ball and is only able to get one out. It's 2-1 with runners on secodn and third but Corey Patterson grounds out to second. And for some reason the fans are yelling for Jay Bruce. Trolley Dodgers 2, Redlegs 1

* Top 8: Burton in. Watched a brush-up of sorts in the stands -- well, not the actual incident, just the aftermath. Dude with some killer chops and a Dodgers shirt was involved in something, security guys came over and they couldn't really handel it, once cop came to restrain the guy and he started talking back and seemed to push a cop and then more cops came, cuffed him and he seemed to get even more angry, trying to go after someone. And then the cops took him down, got him back up, pushed him up the steps. Was pretty amusing -- had about four or five cops. The moral of the story is, there's no good that can come of resisting arrest. None. It's not like you're going to get away, especially at the ballpark. Single by DeWitt followed by a double by Kent to score another run -- and Kent went to third on the throw home. Another DP to get out of it. ARod on the scoreboard now talking about Junior. Trolley Dodgers 3, Redlegs 1

* Bottom 8: Two walks to Phillips and Dunn with two outs, but EE lines out. Trolley Dodgers 3, Redlegs 1

* Top 9: David Weathers in. 1-2-3. Trolley Dodgers 3, Redlegs 1

* Bottom 9: Takashi Saito in for the Dodgers. An absolutely fantastic at-bat by Joey Votto against Saito. Griffey batting for Bako and Ross for the pitcher. Neither catcher is tearing the world up against right-handers. Griffey Ks. Ross is 1-for-1 in his career against Saito. Bako has never faced him. Corey Patterson struck out in his only previous appearance against Saito. Ross is now 1-for-2 lifetime. And now people start heading for the exits. Corey Patterson is up and people are thinking they may beat one car out of the garage if they leave now. Add that to the list of fan behaviors I just don't understand. Patterson hits a rocket that gets fielded and they cheer for Jay Bruce again. And this one... yeah, you know.

No lineup yet.

Josh Fogg went 5.1 innings last night for the Sarasota Reds, allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Both runs scored after he left the game. His next scheduled start would be Saturday. I don't think it'll be at Ft. Myers.

The Pioneer rookie league Billings Mustangs begin their 2008 season tonight, and because of the contruction to their new Dehler Park, Billings will open the season with 14 straight road games. The Gulf Coast League Reds will start their season Thursday.

* UPDATE: Now I'm having trouble deciding between themes -- either "Griffey night sans Griffey" or "Patterson, Pierre leadoff in same game, SABR members commit mass suicide (and can you blame them?)"

For the record, Griffey is ill. And, well, to paraphrase Dennis Green, "Corey Patterson is who we thought he was."

Trolley Dodgers

1. Pierre lf
2. DeWitt 3b
3. Kent 2b
4. Martin c
5. Loney 1b
6. Kemp cf
7. Ethier rf
8. Berroa ss
9. Billingsley p

Redlegs

1. Patterson cf
2. Cabrera ss
3. Bruce rf
4. Phillips 2b
5. Dunn lf
6. Encarnacion 3b
7. Votto 1b
8. Bako c
9. Cueto p

* No decision on Saturday's starter yet, Baker said. Homer Bailey is here and taking batting pracitce with the starters.

"I don't know," Baker said. "Talk to Walt."

* Baker said he'd probably use a combination of Griffey, Dunn and Valentin as the DH in New York, Toronto and Cleveland.

* Just got an e-mail from Sports Illustrated. There's going to be a Jay Bruce article in this week's issue. I'm gonna read it now.

Finished it, nice read. Nothing too new -- and really, I think there should be a retiring of the Jay Bruce calls the Kingdome story -- but a good gag I hadn't noticed from spring when Dunn had Bruce sign baseballs for Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, he did and then Dunn was with the two and pointing at Bruce laughing. Thing is, I bet Dunn did tell them to keep 'em.

* If you weren't listening to Marc Amazon on 1530 Homer, you missed an interesting interview with Walt Jocketty.

First off, Jocketty said they'd make a decision on Homer and the rotation "in the next day."

But more than that what I thought was interesting was Marc asked him about "untouchables" with th team and Jocketty listed five: Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Joey Votto and Edwin Encarnacion.

I was surprised by Encarnacion, but vey interesting.

* A total aside but if you weren't watching the LSU-Rice game, you missed out on an incredible ending. The Tigers got a walk-off bases-clearing double in the bottom of the ninth to win it. Dude just missed a grand slam. Crazy. LSU has some crazy karma on its side.

* A day game for Louisville and the Bats roughed up former Red Danny Graves -- 2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 HR. Thing is, Bats starter Justin Mallett wasn't any better. 1.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 Ks, 1 HR. Still, the Bats won 10-9.

Jeff Keppinger, DHing, had one of the homers off Graves. He finished 2-for-5. Norris Hopper doubled to lead off the game.

Also looking at the boxscore, Graves isn't the only former Red with the Red Wings -- Ryan Jorgensen doubled off Matt Belisle, who pitched 2.1 and got the win.

* Hiroki Kuroda will not start Wednesday against the Reds. Kuroda was sent back to L.A. because of "shoulder discomfort" -- Derek Low will move up a day to face the Reds tomorrow night and Clayton Kershaw Eric Stotlz will start Thursday afternoon.