--INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. started at second base Wednesday, his first start there since the final game of the 2008 season. It was the fourth position at which he has started this season, following left field, third base and right field.
--SS Paul Janish has started four games, and the Reds are 4-0 in those games. He is hitting .357 (5-for-14) and has hit safely in three of those four starts. --LHP Arthur Rhodes, 39, is 70th on the all-time games list for pitchers with 722, while teammate RHP David Weathers, 39, ranks 20th with 903. Neither has been scored upon this season.
--OF Laynce Nix on Tuesday hit his first major league home run since 2006. He had played only 39 games during the interim. "I hit 50 home runs since the last one in the majors, but they were all in the minors," he said before contributing two hits while driving in a run and scoring a run Wednesday in the Reds' 3-0 victory over the Astros.
BY THE NUMBERS: 20 -- Consecutive saves recorded by RHP Francisco Cordero, through April 26. The streak included his last 14 chances in 2008.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "What we have so far is a six-inning game -- if we can get a lead after six innings, we have been able to close it off with Arthur Rhodes, David Weathers and (Francisco) Cordero." -- Pitching coach Dick Pole.
