Manager Dusty Baker found himself with a perplexing problem before Thursday's game against the Brewers -- his entire infield was unavailable.
Already, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion was on the disabled list with a chipped bone in his left wrist and shortstop Alex Gonzalez was out with a sore left oblique. And then second Brandon Phillips and first baseman Joey Votto showed up with the flu. That left Baker with only two extra players on the bench: outfielders Chris Dickerson and Darnell McDonald.
He had both of his catchers in the lineup, with Ryan Hanigan behind the plate and Ramon Hernandez at first base. Hernandez batted in Phillips' cleanup spot, and right fielder Jay Bruce moved up from fifth to Votto's No. 3 spot.
Encarnacion is at least two weeks ago from returning, Gonzalez could be back in a week, and Baker hopes Phillips and Votto will be ready Friday for the start of a three-game series with division-leading St. Louis.
REDS 6, BREWERS 5: RHP Micah Owings held the Brewers to five runs and seven hits over six innings and broke a 3-3 tie with a triple in the fourth inning. Manager Dusty Baker had four regulars out of the lineup due to injury and illness, but a patchwork lineup and home runs by RF Jay Bruce and CF Willy Taveras helped Cincinnati pull out the win.
