Third baseman Adam Rosales was hitting .431 at Class AAA Louisville and fans were clamoring for his promotion, particularly with incumbent third baseman Edwin Encarnacion struggling at .127.
Then there was intervention, forcing the club's hand. Encarnacion suffered a fracture in his left hand last week went on the disabled list. The club called up Rosales, "who almost made the team out of spring training," manager Dusty Baker said. Rosales didn't miss a beat in his first three games, hitting .556 (5-for-9), including his first major league three-hit game.
Baker said he expected Rosales to come up and do well "because he has his stroke and is in a grove, he has confidence, and this isn't his first time in the majors."
Baker has him batting in the lower part of the batting order, but after his three-hit night Saturday, the manager considered moving him up to second for Sunday's game. But after sleeping on it, Baker changed his mind.
"Don't want to put too much pressure on the kid right away," he said. "There is a lot to batting second. Let's permit him to chill and marinate."
REDS 5, PIRATES 0: RHP Johnny Cueto pitched eight shutout innings, giving up four hits, as the Reds pitching staff recorded its third shutout in four games. Cueto struck out nine and walked one. RF Jay Bruce hit his sixth homer, and C Ramon Hernandez had a three-run single.
