NewsGonzalez slowly finding his way
Cincinnati (30-27) at Washington (15-41), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Jeff Seidel / Special to MLB.com
06/10/09 3:08 AM ET
WASHINGTON -- Alex Gonzalez has been struggling at the plate this season, but the slick-fielding shortstop helped the Reds with both his glove and bat in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Nationals. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 and scored a run, but he turned a pair of great double plays that helped starter Johnny Cueto get through seven innings and take home the win. "You've got to keep working," Gonzalez said. "You've got to be aggressive." Gonzalez and second baseman Brandon Phillips give the Reds a solid defensive combination up the middle. Phillips won the National League Gold Glove last year, and they're a great pairing together. The Reds are hoping Gonzalez finds his way at the plate. He's batting .219 after his two-hit night on Tuesday and is just 5-for-26 this month. But Gonzalez was out from May 5-13 with a strained left oblique muscle. He also missed all of 2008 with a compression fracture of his left knee. Pitching matchupCIN: RHP Aaron Harang (5-6, 4.11 ERA)
Harang pitched an eight-inning complete game vs. the Cardinals, but as good as he was, Chris Carpenter was better in his own complete game as the Reds were handed a 3-1 loss on Thursday at Busch Stadium. Harang gave up three earned runs and eight hits with two walks, four strikeouts and induced four inning-ending double plays. But he could not resist challenging Albert Pujols, who drove in all three runs with a two-run homer and an RBI double. WSH: RHP Shairon Martis (5-1, 5.31)
Despite spotty control on Friday night against the Mets, Martis' final line was adequate -- a three-hit, one-run no-decision. His four walks and general carefulness helped contribute to a 110-pitch count that ousted the hurler after just five innings. Martis struck out one batter, his 27th all year, making his walk to strikeout ratio 1:1 this season. Tidbits
Cueto drew his second walk of the season in Tuesday's game and later scored on a Phillips double. ... Cueto also got out on an odd play in his first at-bat, dropping a nice bunt in front of the plate before the ball bounced up and hit him after he began running. ... Phillips got two RBIs in the victory on Tuesday and now leads NL second basemen with 43 RBIs. Tickets
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• Thursday: Reds (Micah Owings, 3-7, 4.90) at Nationals (John Lannan, 3-5, 3.68), 4:35 p.m. ET
• Friday: Reds (Matt Maloney, 0-0, 3.00) at Royals (Luke Hochevar, 1-7, 7.85), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Reds (Bronson Arroyo, 7-4, 5.00) at Royals (Kyle Davies, 2-6, 5.13), 7:10 p.m. ET
Jeff Seidel is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
