The lower third of the order produced nothing for the team in the first week of the season, with No. 8 hitter Alex Gonzalez going 0-for-12 and No. 7 hitter Ramon Hernandez hitting .067 (1-for-15), but manager Dusty Baker was not concerned. He cited the fact Gonzalez missed all of last year with a knee injury and that Hernandez is still learning National League pitching after spending his previous three years with the Orioles in the American League.
PLAYER NEWS: --LF Chris Dickerson got only his second start in five games Sunday. Dickerson is being platooned in left and starts only against right-handers, so he'll get the majority of the starts over Jerry Hairston Jr.
--RF Jay Bruce, 22, has only four hits in his first 20 at-bats with five strikeouts. Teammates believe he is pressing, especially with the fast start of his best friend, 1B Joey Votto. Manager Dusty Baker plans to ride out the storm with Bruce.
--CF Willy Taveras, who stole 63 bases for the Rockies last year, stole his first base of 2009 in Game 5. Manager Dusty Baker has given him the green light and hopes he improves upon last year's .303 on-base percentage.
MEDICAL WATCH:
The Reds are healthy.
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 Chris Dickerson
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 Jerry Hairston Jr.
INF Paul Janish
INF Laynce Nix
