Baker wants better play within division

CINCINNATI - One of the many things that were broken last season and that Reds manager Dusty Baker wanted fixed for this year was the team's record against fellow members of the National League Central.

With the defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, May 10, the Reds are 14-9 in the division this season.

"That's one of the things we talked about - division games, road record (10-5), getaway day record (5-2) and in our division, because last year we got killed," Baker said. "As many games as you play in your division it is in your best interest to have the best in-the-division record you can."

Now the Reds head west, their first trip of the year on the other side of the Mississippi.

Many a blossoming season has wilted on the Left Coast. The Reds open a three-game series tonight in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks and then visit San Diego for three.

Baker said he wants his team to climb above .500 as far as it can get, "And you want to stay in the rear-view mirror so St. Louis can see us."

For the fourth straight day, first baseman Joey Votto was absent from the lineup as the last remnants of the flu evacuate his body. He entered the game as part of a double-switch in the eighth inning and hit a home run.

"If we weren't playing so well, he'd be in there starting for sure, but I figured this way he can get all his strength back," Baker said.

"He is such a team guy that when I talked to him he said, 'We're going so good, winning three in a row, why change?

'What if we win (Sunday)?' I told him, 'No matter, win or lose, you're playing (tonight).' "

Baker said Alex Gonzalez looked good during infield practice Saturday, but hadn't seen him hit to determine if his sore side will enable him to play.

No decision has been made and Baker said, "Things are going pretty good, so we might as well stretch it out as long as we can, as long as it isn't hurting us."

Edwin Encarnacion had the cast removed from his wrist last week and Baker said it will be stiff for a couple of days.

"He's working hard and throwing balls across the field and running and working out," Baker said. "He'll probably be in better shape when he comes back than when he got hurt. He can't hit or really field - just throw and run and work out. He's a ways away yet."

St. Louis pitcher Kyle Lohse was 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA when he took the mound against the Reds Saturday, losing 8-3.

In 2007 Lohse was 6-12 with the Reds over 21 starts and some suspected he might have been hurt.

"No, I wasn't," Lohse said. "I just ran into a lot of tough luck and bad circumstances. I've changed my approach here, altered some things. But I had a flashback to Cincinnati Saturday, all those infield squibbers and bloopers."

"Confidence breeds confidence and from there you never know. And that comes from winning." - Baker on the appearance of assuredness by his team.

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