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: --RHP Bronson Arroyo (1-0, 7.50) is 7-5 for his career against the Brewers going into his second start of the season Tuesday in Miller Park. He was the only Reds pitcher last year to make each of his scheduled starts.
--RHP Francisco Cordero recorded his second save of the year Monday against the Brewers. He is four short of becoming the 11th pitcher in major league history with 100 saves in each league, recording 117 in the American League and 96 so far in the National League.
--LHP Arthur Rhodes appeared in three of the team's first five games and threw 31 pitches, 27 for strikes. He and RHP David Weathers, both 39, had combined to retire all 13 hitters they faced, throwing 35 strikes on 42 pitches. They then struggled Monday but still survived -- Rhodes gave up two hits but no runs and Weathers loaded the bases with two outs before getting out of it unscathed.
MEDICAL WATCH:
The Reds are healthy.
ROTATION:
RHP Aaron Harang
RHP Edinson Volquez
RHP Bronson Arroyo
RHP Johnny Cueto
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
CATCHERS:
Ramon Hernandez
Ryan Hanigan
INFIELDERS:
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
SS Alex Gonzalez
3B Edwin Encarnacion
INF Paul Janish
INF Laynce Nix
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Chris Dickerson
CF Willy Taveras
RF Jay Bruce
OF/INF Jerry Hairston Jr.
OF Darnell McDonald
