http://www.kentucky.com/332/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2008 Kentucky.com Cincinnati Reds 60 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:02:37 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/601/story/29575.html http://www.kentucky.com/601/story/29575.html Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:06 EDT http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/465415.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/465415.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:49 EDT
The procedure will be performed on Wednesday by team medical director Tim Kremchek.

Freel, currently on the 15-day disabled list, suffered the injury while running out a ground ball at Philadelphia on June 3. The veteran outfielder took a couple of strides out of the batter's box before falling to the ground and grabbing his leg.

Freel is batting .298 with 10 RBI in 48 games (26 starts) this season.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464842.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464842.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:13 EDT
New York rallied from two runs down with a four-run ninth frame to claim a 10-8 victory in Thursday night's opener and has now won 10 straight for the first time since July 1-13, 1991. Four times in team history New York has won 11 consecutive tests, last doing so on June 17-29, 1990. The Mets also won 11 games in a row during the 1986, 1972 and 1969 seasons.

David Wright tied last night's contest with a two-run homer in the ninth, and Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley each followed with singles to put runners on the corners. Carlos Delgado then put the Mets ahead with a run-scoring single and Fernando Tatis followed with an RBI double to account for the final score.

Wright ended with four RBI, while Tatis and Delgado each drove in three runs. Tatis also homered.

Billy Wagner, who blew a save chance in Tuesday's All-Star game, retired all three batters faced in the bottom of the ninth for his 23rd save of the season.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464552.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464552.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:46 EDT
CINCINNATI . Ten straight wins and a share of first place. The New York Mets don't look like a $138 million disappointment anymore.

Right now, they're golden.

David Wright's two-run homer in the ninth inning sparked New York's biggest comeback of the season Thursday night, a 10-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that extended the Mets' winning streak to 10 games and brought them a share of first place in the NL East.

The Mets blew three leads before coming full circle with four runs in the ninth. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464443.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464443.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:39 EDT
Arroyo (8-7) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four to collect his fourth straight victory. Francisco Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 20th save.

Jay Bruce finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored for Cincinnati, which has won eight of its last 12 outings. Brandon Phillips drove in two runs for the Reds.

Carlos Beltran was 2-for-4 and knocked in a run for the Mets, whose 10-game winning streak was one shy of the franchise record and tied Minnesota (June 17-27) for the longest in the majors this year.

John Maine (8-7) went just 4 2/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts to take the loss. Maine is 0-2 in his last four starts and has not made it through the fifth in three of those starts.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464440.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464440.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:20 EDT
Playing on the one-month anniversary of manager Willie Randolph's firing, the Mets blew three leads before coming full-circle with four runs in the ninth off closer Francisco Cordero (4-2).

They were 6 1/2 games out when they changed managers, fearful that they were playing themselves out of contention with an underachieving offense. Their 10th straight win completed the turnaround - they're tied for first with Philadelphia, back in the top spot for the first time since April 19.

That once-balky offense made it possible.

Down to their last two outs, the Mets rallied against Cordero, who blew a save for the fifth time in 24 chances. Argenis Reyes singled, and Wright - an All-Star designated hitter at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night - hit a tying homer to right field that barely eluded the glove of leaping Ken Griffey Jr.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464269.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/464269.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:34 EDT
The Reds have placed four different shortstops on the disabled list this season, as Jeff Keppinger and Alex Gonzalez have both missed time with knee injuries.

Hairston, who was sidelined earlier in the year with a broken left thumb, strained his right hamstring and will be placed on the DL retroactively to July 14. The 32-year old has had one of the most productive seasons of his 11- year career, recording a .351 batting average with 34 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 56 games.

The 35-year-old Cabrera was also having a quality season before dislocating his left index finger on a headfirst slide on June 20. Cabrera hit .389 (7- for-18) in fill-in duty prior to the injury.

In other news, the club reinstated pitcher Bobby Livingston from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Double-A Chattanooga.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/463600.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/463600.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:34 EDT
Following last season's epic collapse that saw New York miss out on both the National League East title and a playoff spot, the Mets' 2008 season didn't get off to a great start. New York was as far back as 7 1/2 games in the division on June 13 and two games under .500 at 32-34.

That start cost manager Willie Randolph his job, as he was unceremoniously fired in the middle of the night on June 17 following a victory over the Angels. However, New York has gone 17-9 under interim manager Jerry Manuel and is now within a half game of first-place Philadelphia in the NL East thanks to its winning streak. The Phillies are idle tonight, giving the Mets a chance to move into a tie for first place.

The nine wins in a row is the club's longest since also winning nine straight from April 16-25, 2000. The Mets haven't won 10 straight since July 1-13, 1991. The current streak is also just two wins short of New York's franchise record of 11, set four times in club history and most recently in 1990.

The Mets send their ace to the hill tonight and will try to continue to put up runs. New York has scored 54 runs over its winning streak while posting shutouts in four of its last six games. That is good news for Santana, who went 0-3 over five starts despite a 2.48 earned run average in that time prior to a win over the Giants on July 9.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460539.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460539.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:07 EDT
MILWAUKEE . CC Sabathia's first week with the Milwaukee Brewers can be summed up with one key stat: Two starts, two wins.

Sabathia homered in his first National League complete game to help Milwaukee avoid a sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Sabathia went deep off Reds starter Homer Bailey in the third, his third career home run and second this season. Sabathia became the first pitcher to hit home runs in both leagues in one season since Earl Wilson did it in 1970 for Detroit and San Diego, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

After allowing run-scoring sacrifice flies to David Ross in the second and Adam Dunn in the third, Sabathia (2-0) shut down Cincinnati, striking out nine batters, all from the fourth inning on. He struck out the side in the ninth. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460231.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460231.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:54 EDT
Harang's DL stint was made retroactive to Wednesday. The right-hander returned to Cincinnati following Tuesday's 7-3 loss at Chicago. An examination and MRI revealed a strained right forearm.

Harang is 3-11 with a 4.76 ERA in 20 appearances, 19 starts, and is eligible to be reinstated on July 23.

Bailey went 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA in three starts with the Reds last month. The right-hander is 4-7 with a 4.42 ERA in 16 starts at Louisville this year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460217.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460217.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:31 EDT
Sabathia (2-0), who was making his second start with the Brewers since being acquired from the Cleveland Indians, was masterful in going nine frames. The burly left-hander gave up two runs on eight hits, while striking out nine and hit a solo homer in the win. He is now 8-8 overall and 5-0 in his last seven starts. He also improved to 4-0 over nine lifetime games against Cincinnati. It was his fourth complete game of the season and 20th of his career.

"All I can do is try to help the team win and keep us in games," Sabathia said. "I just knew it would be good to win a game before we got four days off. I was able to mix it up and get the pitches in the zone and get out of jams."

Gabe Kapler went 2-for-4 with an RBI double for the Brewers, who salvaged a win in the three-game series. Milwaukee is 3-3 in its last six games and enter the All-Star break with a 52-43 record, good for third place in the National League Central, five games behind division-leader Chicago Cubs.

Adam Dunn and David Ross each had a sac fly apiece to account for the Reds' runs. Despite the loss, Cincinnati has won three of its last four games and heads into the break with a 46-50 mark, in fourth place in the NL Central and 11 1/2 games out of first.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460198.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460198.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:54 EDT
Sabathia hit a home run off Reds starter Homer Bailey in the third, his third career home run and second this season. He became the first pitcher to hit home runs in both leagues in one season since Earl Wilson did it in 1970 for Detroit and San Diego, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

After allowing run-scoring sacrifice flies to David Ross in the second and Adam Dunn in the third, Sabathia (2-0) shut down Cincinnati, striking out nine batters, all from the fourth inning on. He struck out the side in the ninth.

The Brewers headed into the All-Star break in third place in the NL Central, five games behind Chicago. St. Louis is a half-game ahead of Milwaukee.

The game was tied at 2 in the ninth when pinch-hitter Craig Counsell hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to help the Brewers avoid being a three-game sweep to end the first half of the season.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460144.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460144.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:26 EDT
With the Reds leading 1-0, Hairston led off the third with a bunt single, but as he was about to reach the first base bag, grabbed his right hamstring and laid on the field for several minutes before being carried off. He was replaced by rookie outfielder Jay Bruce. Hairston finished 1-for-2.

For the season, the journeyman is batting .351 with two home runs and 22 RBI in 56 games.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460042.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/460042.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:17 EDT
Bailey, who was brought up from Triple-A Louisville, gave up two earned runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four without issuing a walk.

The 30-year-old Harang suffered a strained right forearm in the team's 7-3 loss at the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. He was removed from the game after giving up six runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings of work.

The veteran right-hander has not fared well this season, posting a 3-11 mark with a 4.76 earned run average in 20 games.

Bailey, the seventh overall pick in the 2004 amateur draft, was 4-7 with a 4.42 ERA in 16 starts at Louisville.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459973.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459973.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:29 EDT
The Brewers kicked off the summer trading season with a bang, acquiring the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians on Monday in exchange for top prospect Matt LaPorta, two additional minor leaguers and a player to be named later. One day after the deal, the burly left-hander recorded his first victory in a Milwaukee uniform with six solid innings against Colorado.

Sabathia worked around five walks in his Brewers debut and held the Rockies to three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in Tuesday's 7-3 win. He is now 4-0 with a 1.96 earned run average over his last six starts of the year.

A three-time All-Star, Sabathia amassed a 106-71 overall record in seven-plus seasons with the Indians and captured last year's AL Cy Young Award after delivering a 19-7 record and a 3.21 ERA along with a career-high 209 strikeouts.

Sabathia fired eight shutout innings to defeat the Reds in his second-to-last start with Cleveland, a game in which the 27-year-old yielded just four hits and racked up 11 strikeouts. He is 3-0 with a 2.26 ERA over eight lifetime matchups with Cincinnati.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459800.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459800.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:39 EDT
MILWAUKEE . Edinson Volquez is at the top of his game heading into All-Star week.

Cincinnati's lone representative for Tuesday's festivities at Yankee Stadium, Volquez struck out 10 in seven sharp innings to lead the Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 on Saturday night.

Volquez (12-3) lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.29 and made a strong case to earn starting honors for the National League in New York.

.Edinson was outstanding,. Reds Manager Dusty Baker said. .I wanted him to go there on a high, on a positive. He's going there with quite a few pitches. Two days' rest, that's not very long, so we'll see. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459165.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459165.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:12 EDT
MILWAUKEE . In a game of giveaways, the Cincinnati Reds came out on top.

Jay Bruce scored a career-high three times, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on the third wild pitch by the Brewers, allowing Cincinnati to beat Milwaukee 6-5 on Friday night.

Rickie Weeks, Mike Cameron and Bill Hall all made an error and Manny Parra uncorked two wild pitches and Solomon Torres added the costliest one for the Brewers. The Reds had one miscue, Edwin Encarnacion's throwing error in the fourth.

.You have to (take advantage),. Bruce said. .That's how good teams stay on top, I think, and I consider us a good team. You have to take advantage of that stuff. You see it all the time. Little things hurt you the most.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459008.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459008.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:14 EDT
Volquez (12-3), the Reds' lone National League All-Star representative, gave up two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and struck out 10 over seven solid innings, lowering his earned run average to an NL-best 2.29. Volquez's win moved him into sole possession of second place, one behind Arizona's Brandon Webb for the National League lead.

Dunn finished with four RBI and Jerry Hairston Jr. was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and three runs scored for Cincinnati, which has won seven of its last nine outings. Edwin Encarnacion added a solo homer, while Jay Bruce drove in a pair of runs.

"It's nice to get a lead early with Volquez on the mound," said Dunn. "We were pretty confident."

Seth McClung (5-5) was saddled with the loss despite giving up just three first-inning runs for Milwaukee. McClung went 6 1/3 frames and allowed only one hit beyond the troublesome first. He also recorded a season-high seven punch outs and walked three. Eric Gagne was charged with four runs in the ninth.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459005.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/459005.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:14 EDT
It was Cincinnati's seventh victory in nine games, and Milwaukee dropped to 2-4 since acquiring CC Sabathia in a trade with Cleveland on Monday. Sabathia makes his second start Sunday for the Brewers, who fell six games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Volquez (12-3), Cincinnati's lone All-Star, lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.29. He gave up six hits and two runs, one earned. The right-hander walked two in his fourth double-digit strikeout game this season.

Seth McClung (5-5) took the loss despite striking out a season-high seven. He gave up three hits and three runs - all on Dunn's first-inning shot. Jerry Hairston singled, Ken Griffey Jr. walked and Dunn hit his 25th homer with two outs.

Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion then went back-to-back in the ninth inning off Eric Gagne, drawing boos from the crowd for the former Brewers closer. More boos followed as Gagne was removed from the game after giving up a two-out single to Eric Patterson and a double to Hairston. Both scored on a single by Jay Bruce off Guillermo Mota.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/458444.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/458444.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:44 EDT
Volquez earned his first career selection to the Midsummer Classic with a brilliant first half of his debut season with the Reds. The hard-throwing right-hander, acquired by Cincinnati from Texas last December in exchange for fellow All-Star Josh Hamilton, tops all National League hurlers with a 2.36 earned run average and also ranks among the Senior Circuit leaders with 11 wins and 116 strikeouts.

The 25-year-old picked up win No. 11 when he held Washington to three runs over six innings of the Reds' 6-5 victory last Sunday. That effort was a noticeable improvement over Volquez's previous two starts, in which he allowed 10 runs (8 earned) in a combined 9 2/3 innings of work against Toronto and Pittsburgh.

This will be the first career start against Milwaukee for Volquez, who sports a 5-3 record with a 2.29 ERA in 10 road appearances (9 starts) this season.

The Reds claimed the opener of this three-game series with a furious late rally on Friday. Cincinnati scored three times in the seventh inning to tie the contest, then went ahead in the eighth to pull out a 6-5 decision.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/458242.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/458242.html Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:47 EDT
CHICAGO . David Ross and the Cincinnati Reds felt right at home with the wind blowing out of Wrigley Field on Thursday.

The Chicago Cubs' friendly confines was even nicer to a visiting team, for once.

Ross hit two of Cincinnati's seven homers, a long-ball barrage that included Ken Griffey Jr.'s 605th, and the Reds avoided a sweep with a 12-7 victory.

It was only Chicago's 11th home loss this season. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457974.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457974.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:19 EDT
Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Phillips, Adam Dunn and Joey Votto also homered with the wind blowing out at 12 mph on a muggy day at Wrigley Field. The Reds tied their season high for homers - they also had seven against the Cubs at Great American Ball Park on May 7.

Backup catcher Ross had one homer all season before hitting solo shots in the fifth off Jon Lieber and seventh off newly acquired Chad Gaudin.

Griffey hit a three-run drive off reliever Michael Wuertz as Cincinnati scored four times in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead. He also had a run-scoring double and finished with four RBIs.

Griffey's 12th homer of the season got him within four of tying Sammy Sosa for fifth on the career list with 609.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457942.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457942.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:05 EDT
Ross finished 3-for-4 with a walk for the Reds, who matched a season-high with seven home runs. Ken Griffey Jr. hit a three-run homer and added an RBI double for Cincinnati, which has won five of its last seven games. Brandon Phillips clubbed a two-run homer, while Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Dunn and Joey Votto each belted a solo home run.

Bronson Arroyo (7-7) allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings to pick up his third straight win.

Mike Fontenot was 2-for-3 with a two-run shot, a walk and three runs scored for Chicago, which was looking to sweep the Reds in a three-game set at Wrigley for the first time since May 22-24, 2001. Ryan Theriot knocked in two runs for the Cubs, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Ted Lilly (9-6) lasted only 2 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits to take the loss. Michael Wuertz was victimized for four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief, while Jon Lieber surrendered two runs in his two innings of work. Newly acquired Chad Gaudin and Neal Cotts each allowed a run. All five pitchers gave up at least one home run.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457188.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457188.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:32 EDT
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Aaron Harang will have an MRI exam on his right forearm after he experienced discomfort early Wednesday.

Harang lasted only 41.3 innings Tuesday night, when he yielded a career-high seven walks in a 7-3 loss to the Cubs. He left for Cincinnati before Wednesday night's game, and will likely miss his last start before the All-Star Game.

.I'm going to do some treatment beforehand and then go over and get my MRI done,. Harang said in the Reds clubhouse on Wednesday.

Harang said the arm started bothering him Wednesday morning and, after talking with Manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Dick Pole, he decided to have it checked again. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457171.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457171.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:32 EDT
CHICAGO . Big Z was at his best and showed why he's headed to New York for the All-Star Game.

Carlos Zambrano allowed one hit . a second-inning homer to Adam Dunn . in eight innings Wednesday night, retiring the final 20 batters he faced as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1.

.Tonight he was really, really good,. Dunn said. .The pitch I hit was probably the only mistake he made the entire game. That's probably the best I've seen him in a long time..

Zambrano shrugged off Dunn's homer and then went to work against the Reds. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457004.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/457004.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:05 EDT
The right-hander was sent back to Cincinnati on Wednesday after complaining of a stiff forearm. Harang started Tuesday and took the loss to the Cubs after allowing six runs on five hits with seven walks and six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Harang has struggled to a 3-11 mark this season with a 4.76 earned run average. The Reds said Thursday that they will promote Homer Bailey from Triple-A Louisville to take Harang's place Sunday and start at Milwaukee.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456425.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456425.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:43 EDT
The Cubs have won three straight and four of their last five. They have held their opponents to three runs or fewer in each of their last five games, with Lilly's start last time out the lone blemish.

With Harden set to make his club debut on Saturday versus the Giants, Lilly takes the hill having won each of his last four decisions over a span of six starts with a 3.23 earned run average in that time. He got a no-decision on Saturday against St. Louis despite giving up just two runs on seven hits over six innings. However, Chicago's bullpen allowed three runs on Saturday in defeat.

Lilly has rebounded to up his record to 9-5 on the season with a 4.47 ERA. He is just 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA in six career starts versus the Reds, taking a loss to the club on April 17 at home.

The 32-year-old left-hander allowed five runs on six hits in that one and was victimized by the Reds' Joey Votto, who went 2-for-3 with a double, homer and five RBI in that test.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456131.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456131.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:21 EDT
CHICAGO . Ryan Dempster's 10-0 start at home was one reason to celebrate Tuesday night. And there was another. The Cubs' rotation is getting another front-line starter in Rich Harden, who hails from British Columbia. Just like Dempster.

.Awesome. We're taking over. ... From my neck of the woods. Finally somebody who speaks my language,. Dempster said after the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 behind his seven strong innings and homers from Mike Fontenot and Geovany Soto.

Harden, expected to pitch this weekend against the Giants at Wrigley Field, joins the staff of the NL Central leaders that already includes Dempster and Carlos Zambrano. He was acquired Tuesday in a six-player deal from the Oakland Athletics.

Dempster (10-3) is the first Cubs' pitcher to win his first 10 decisions at home since Rick Reuschel in 1977. He allowed two hits and a run in seven innings, while throwing 103 pitches on a muggy night at Wrigley Field. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456057.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456057.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:58 EDT
Zambrano (10-3) had his best start of the season, allowing only one run on one hit in eight innings while striking out five and walking none. Besides allowing a home run to Adam Dunn, Zambrano did not let another runner reach base, retiring the final 20 batters he faced.

"Definitely I feel good. I think those two (missed) starts helped me a lot," Zambrano said. "Ive been doing all the exercises for my shoulder. I just have to keep doing my exercises and everything Im supposed to do to be strong."

Aramis Ramirez homered and doubled, driving in two runs while Kosuke Fukudome and Derrek Lee had an RBI apiece to give Chicago its third straight win and first with new acquisitions Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin in uniform.

Cincy's Johnny Cueto (7-9) pitched well until the seventh, when he gave up three runs. Through 6 2/3 innings, he allowed five runs - four earned - on eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456028.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/456028.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:08 EDT
In his second start since coming off the disabled list with a right shoulder strain, Zambrano (10-3) walked none and struck out five while throwing 103 pitches in a dominating performance.

But things got shaky for the Cubs after Zambrano left the game.

Carlos Marmol relieved to start the ninth and gave up a two-out single to Jay Bruce that went off first baseman Derrek Lee's glove, then walked Jeff Keppinger and Ken Griffey Jr. to load the bases.

Kerry Wood relieved and got Brandon Phillips to foul out to first to earn his 23rd save in 28 chances.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/455348.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/455348.html Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:43 EDT
Chicago leads the National League Central by 3 1/2 games over the St. Louis Cardinals thanks to a league-best 53-36 mark. That lead was upped by a game over the weekend, as the Cubs took two of three from the Cardinals after Sunday's 7-1 victory.

Aramis Ramirez drove in three runs in the victory, while rookie Geovany Soto homered. Soto, along with injured outfielder Alfonso Soriano and fellow major league freshman Kosuke Fukudome were named starters for the NL All-Star club, while Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood and Ramirez will also be at Yankee Stadium on July 15 for the 79th All-Star Game, giving the Cubs a franchise- record seven selections.

Soriano is doubtful for the game due to a broken finger that has had him sidelined since June 12.

Derrek Lee and Ryan Theriot each had three hits in Sunday's win, as the Cubs have now split their last eight games and ended a season long 10-game road trip 4-6. Chicago is an NL-best 33-10 at home this year, having won 15 of its last 17 at Wrigley Field.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/455127.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/455127.html Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:14 EDT
CINCINNATI . Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez had surgery on his left knee Monday, ending his season before he got to play a single game.

Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremcheck performed the one-hour surgery and said Gonzalez could be ready for spring training next year.

Gonzalez, 31, sustained a compression fracture at the start of spring training in February.

Cincinnati signed Gonzalez to a $14 million, three-year deal before last season. He missed 28 games in 2007 while attending to his ailing son and ended up batting .272 with 16 homers and 55 RBI. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/454364.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/454364.html Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:04 EDT
CINCINNATI . At the end of a frustrating performance, Edinson Volquez looked up at the scoreboard, saw the news and started celebrating with teammates in the Cincinnati Reds' dugout.

He was headed to Yankee Stadium.

Volquez lasted six innings Sunday to get the victory on the day he was picked for his first All-Star Game, the Reds' lone representative after right-fielder Ken Griffey Jr. faded out of the picture in the final voting. He got the news when he was lifted for a pinch hitter during a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.

.Everybody has dreams,. said Volquez, who came to the Reds last December in the trade for outfielder Josh Hamilton, an AL All-Star. .A lot of pitchers want to win the Cy Young or go to the All-Star Game. This is one of mine.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/453985.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/453985.html Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:01 EDT
Jerry Hairston Jr. finished with two hits and a pair of RBI and David Ross knocked in another with a double, for the Reds, who have won seven of their last nine games.

Volquez (11-3) earned the win, giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out three and walking three. It was his first career start versus Washington. Volquez on Sunday was selected to play in the 79th All-Star game on July 15th at Yankee Stadium. Francisco Cordero earned his 18th save of the season.

Cristian Guzman drove in two runs, while Felipe Lopez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Washington, which has dropped five in a row and seven of its last nine. Guzman will represent the Nationals in the mid-summer classic and now has a 14-game hitting streak.

Collin Balester (1-1) suffered the loss in only his second career start. The right-hander was touched for five runs on four hits. He fanned three and issued three walks.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/453774.html http://www.kentucky.com/332/story/453774.html Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:24 EDT
The Reds have won the first three tests of this series, including Saturday's 3-2 victory. Jerry Hairston Jr. singled to start the ninth, stole second, and scored the winning run on a Brandon Phillips single to lead the way.

Hairston was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Phillips had two hits and two runs batted in. Francisco Cordero was handed the win despite his fourth blown save of the season, having allowed a run on one hit and a walk in the ninth.

Reds starter Josh Fogg, just off the disabled list, tossed six innings of one- run ball on six hits in taking Aaron Harang's spot in the rotation. Harang had to be skipped after experiencing stiffness in his right forearm.

Stud pitcher Edinson Volquez gets the nod for the Reds on Sunday. He is 10-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) this season. Volquez last pitched on Tuesday versus Pittsburgh, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 setback for the no-decision.]]>