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: --3B Edwin Encarnacion is showing a much improved batting eye, walking at least once in each of the first six games before going 0-for-4 Tuesday. He walked only 61 times last season.
--SS Alex Gonzalez (0-for-16) and C Ramon Hernandez (.105) were given Tuesday off and were replaced by SS Paul Janish and C Ryan Hanigan. It is a one-day rest for the two regulars, who are expected to play Wednesday.
--RHP Micah Owings, acquired last August in a trade with the Diamondbacks for Adam Dunn, makes his Reds starting debut Wednesday. Owings is an accomplished hitter, but manager Dusty Baker said he is not considering batting Owings anywhere other than ninth.
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
