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 David Weathers and LHP Arthur Rhodes, the club's co-setup guys, have yet to give up a run. Weathers has given up one hit in his four appearances (3 1/3 innings) and Rhodes has given up two hits in four outings (four innings). Manager Dusty Baker will use them interchangeably depending upon the left-right combination of hitters.
--SS Alex Gonzalez and C Ramon Hernandez were back in Wednesday's lineup after taking Tuesday off. Both came to the park early Tuesday for long extra batting practice sessions. Hernandez had two hits Wednesday, and Gonzalez ended his hitless streak at 0-for-17 with a run-scoring double.
--RF Jay Bruce has five RBIs in eight games, but he is batting only .167 (5-for-30). He has yet to have more than one hit in any game.
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
