--OF Darnell McDonald is 30 and a participant in only 21 major league games before this year since being the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 1997. He was a surprise survivor out of spring training as a non-roster invitee and is hitting .357, plus he leads the team with two pinch hits.
--INF Paul Janish suddenly became the team's emergency pitcher and its backup catcher in case of a major blowout. Manager Dusty Baker discovered that Janish was a shortstop/closer in high school and that he was an emergency catcher at Rice University. Janish said: "I become more and more versatile every day." BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Times in their first 11 games that the Reds have been behind. They won four of those games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're 6-5 without hitting and that gives me more hope and confidence." -- Manager Dusty Baker, on his team's .208 team batting average.
