Infielder Adam Rosales nearly made the Reds out of spring training but was one of the last cuts, taking with him to Class AAA Louisville a message from manager Dusty Baker: "Go down there and tear it up and you'll be back up."
Rosales tore it up. He hit .431 with an 11-game hitting streak, and when third baseman Edwin Encarnacion fractured his left hand, Rosales was recalled. Baker said, "I really didn't expect it to be this soon, but his confidence level is high, he is seeing the ball well and this isn't his first time in the majors."
Rosales was in Wednesday's starting lineup.
"It's unfortunate somebody has to get hurt, but that's baseball," he said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity, and even if it's a small window, it is an opportunity."
Rosales singled home the first run and drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly in a 3-0 victory.
Rosales picked up the nickname Pete Rose-ales in winter ball because he runs hard not only on walks but to and from his position, moving at a full sprint.
Encarnacion is expected to miss at least three weeks, the first two with a cast on his wrist.
REDS 3, ASTROS 0: RHP Edinson Volquez walked seven in his previous start against the Braves, but on Wednesday he walked only one (in the eighth inning) and gave up only one hit (a first-inning double). His eight-inning outing was a career high, and it enabled the Reds to stop an 11-game losing streak at home to the Astros, who had won 16 of the last 17 in Great American Ball Park over the past three seasons.
