After a 7-3 trip that buoyed hopes for a good season, the Reds returned home and sputtered, going 2-4, including losing two of three to the Astros, a team they had beaten three of four in Houston. The Reds did win one against the Astros, ending a streak of 11 consecutive head-to-head losses at home and a 1-15 record at home against them over the past three seasons.
PLAYER NEWS: --1B Joey Votto leads the team in hits (33), total bases (53), doubles (10) and RBIs (22) and has played every inning of the first 24 games.
--SS Alex Gonzalez is hitting only .186, but he has hit safely in eight of his last 11 games, including a six-game hitting streak. That spell of .268 hitting (11-for-41) lifted his batting average from .069.
--2B Brandon Phillips, after a slow start, has hits in each of his last six starts, including two Sunday. That raised his average to a season-high .207. While there has been talk about moving him out of the cleanup spot, manager Dusty Baker continues to use him there.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Edwin Encarnacion (chip fracture in left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list April 28. He might miss two to three weeks.
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 Jerry Hairston Jr.
INF Paul Janish
INF Adam Rosales
INF Laynce Nix
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Chris Dickerson
CF Willy Taveras
RF Jay Bruce
OF Darnell McDonald
