--After not starting the first two games of the season because of the flu, CF Willy Taveras made his first start of the 2009 season Thursday in the series finale against the Mets. He hit a pinch triple Wednesday, becoming the first Red to triple in his first at-bat with the team since Robin Jennings on Aug. 26, 2001, at Montreal.

--SS Alex Gonzalez, who missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury, got Thursday off after starting Cincinnati's first two games of the season.

--1B Joey Votto's four RBIs Thursday, including his second three-run homer in less than 24 hours, were one short of his single-game career high of five, which he turned in twice last season.

--3B Edwin Encarnacion was hitless in six at-bats on the season before hitting a single in the seventh inning Thursday, but he'd still reached base six times on five walks and one hit by pitch. Encarnacion's seventh-inning stolen base matched his total from last season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

CF Willy Taveras (flu) missed the season opener. He returned to action April 8 as a pinch hitter, and he started April 9.

OF Jerry Hairston Jr. (left leg tightness) left the April 8 game, and he didn't play April 9. He is day-to-day.

ROTATION:

1. RHP Aaron Harang

2. RHP Edinson Volquez

3. RHP Bronson Arroyo

4. RHP Johnny Cueto

5. RHP Micah Owings

BULLPEN:

RHP Francisco Cordero (closer)

RHP David Weathers

LHP Arthur Rhodes

RHP Jared Burton

RHP Mike Lincoln

LHP Daniel Ray Herrera

RHP Nick Masset

LINEUP:

1. CF Willy Taveras

2. LF Jerry Hairston Jr.

3. 1B Joey Votto

4. 2B Brandon Phillips

5. RF Jay Bruce

6. 3B Edwin Encarnacion

7. C Ramon Hernandez

8. SS Alex Gonzalez

RESERVES:

C Ryan Hanigan

OF Darnell McDonald

OF Chris Dickerson

INF Paul Janish

INF Laynce Nix