"WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO."

The Cincinnati Reds entered their series against the St. Louis Cardinals just a 1/2 game behind them in the NL Central. Despite a ninth inning effort, Aaron Harang and the Reds were defeated 4-3 by the Cardinals on Friday stretching the distance from first to 1 1/2 games. Over the next two days, Mike "Godzilla" Leake and Bronson Arroyo led the Reds to back-to-back victories and placed their team at the top of the NL Central.

After being caged and shackled (pictured above) prior to the game, Mike "Godzilla" Leake was released just before the first pitch of the 2010 Civil Rights Game on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Leake threw six innings, allowed only two runs on four hits, and received his fourth win of the season.

"We have the potential to have a quality start every outing. That's how good our pitching staff is," Leake said through an interpreter who speaks Godzillanese. "(The atmosphere) was a little preview of what it would be like (to be in the postseason)."



With first place on the line, the Reds gave the ball to Bronson Arroyo on Sunday. Arroyo pitched his first complete game of the season allowing two runs on seven hits. Arroyo threw the Reds' third complete game in the past five as the Reds defeated the Cardinals 7-2. Reds' starters are 7-1 with a 2.11 ERA during their last eight games while the Reds' offense is hitting .297 over the past twelve games.

"There's definitely some exciting things happening around here," said Arroyo. "If you can push it into June or July, that's when you open up some eyes and let people know this team's for real."

The last time the Reds were the sole owners of first place was on April 17, 2007.

"We have a long way to go. We're not going to the playoffs today. But I'd rather be in this position than the position we've been in the past," said Reds' manager Dusty Baker. "We just have to go play. If we keep getting good pitching, good defense and timely hitting, we'll see where it takes us. You have to enjoy the moment as well and not worry about where we've been three years ago or where we might be two weeks from now. There's nothing you can control except now."

Next up for the Reds are the Milwaukee Brewers. Johnny Cueto (2-1, 4.07) will face Yovani Gallardo (4-2, 3.06) on Monday at 7:10 pm.

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