--RHP Aaron Harang, winner of 16 games in each of the last two seasons, is 3-13 this year and is 0-4 with a 10.74 ERA over his last six starts.
--1B Joey Votto returned Saturday from the seven-day bereavement list after his father died in Toronto but manager Dusty Baker did not plan to use him in the lineup until the team opens a nine-game trip in Chicago Tuesday. --LF Chris Dickerson, the replacement for traded Adam Dunn, started his major-league career with six hits in three games, all for extra bases (four doubles, a triple and a home run). His first hit in his fifth game with a single, then he added another double and another single for his second three-hit game.
--RHP Mike Lincoln, out of baseball for three years due to two "Tommy John" surgeries, is a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year with his 48 appearances and 3.53 ERA that included a string of 19 straight scoreless innings.
--RF Jay Bruce had a career-best 13-game hitting streak, but since then is 4 for 29, dropping his average to .265.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Number of wins this season against division rivals St. Louis and Houston against 14 defeats through August 17.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to get this together. I'm convinced of it. We're going to do it." -- Manager Dusty Baker, on the franchise's future as it heads for its eighth straight losing season.
