IT'S GOOD TO BE KING.

Screw the wildcard and forget the NL Central; The Cincinnati Reds (29-20) are currently the best team in the National League after Friday's 15-6 Astro-pounding. Ohhhh yeah.



Sam LeCure made his major league debut against Wandy Rodriguez and the Houston Astros on Friday. LeCure pitched respectable (6IP, 6H, 2ER, 4BB, 5K) as his teammates helped him secure his first major league win. The Reds offense scored fifteen runs against the unconscious Astros. Brandon Phillips went 3-6 while driving in three and Drew Sutton went 2-2, driving in four, with his first career grand slam. Jonny Gomes went 4-4 driving in four runs and was a double short of the cycle, but could care less:

"With the way things are going, the last thing I’m worried about is the cycle. I’ll take a win over the cycle anytime."

The Reds ace in the hole, Edinson Volquez, threw sixty pitches at Great American Ballpark on Friday. Volquez underwent "Tommy John" surgery on August 3, 2009. Beginning next week, Volquez will pitch in extended spring training at the club's complex in Goodyear, Arizona. Volquez will then continue on a minor league rehab assignment until his 50-day suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs expires on June 14.

"He looked great," Walt Jocketty said. "He threw all his pitches. He really looked good."

Aaron Harang (3-5, 5.98) will face Brian Moehler (0-1, 4.42) and the Astros at 7:10 pm on Saturday.

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DAMN IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A GANGSTER

Reds' first baseman Joey Votto was asked by manager Dusty Baker if he wanted to take Tuesday afternoon off after Monday's night game. Votto said no. Baker decided to rest third baseman Scott Rolen instead and the results were impeccable. Rolen provided the Reds with a two-run pinch-hit homer that tied the game in the ninth inning. Votto went 3-5 with a 460-foot homer and the game-winning RBI single.

"I want to play every single day," Votto said. "I don't want to be out of the lineup, ever. I think I can speak for every single person in this locker room and they feel the exact same way. Everybody wants to play every single day."

Homer Bailey started for the Reds on Tuesday and after a two-run first, pitched concrete. Bailey's next six innings of work consisted of only one Brewer hit allowed in the seventh. After Bailey left the game the Reds' bullpen (Mike Lincoln) struggled, allowing two more Brewer runs, placing the Reds behind, 4-2.

"It wasn’t a matter of: Are we going to come back? It was: It’s going to happen," said an intrepid Bailey. "We have that much confidence right now. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We have a lot of confidence in our lineup and in our pitching. Right now, the way we’re playing as a team is pretty remarkable. We expect every game that we’re going to win."

Homer Bailey was right. Down two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the tenacious Reds managed to win their tenth game in their final at-bat this season.

The Brewers sent Trevor Hoffman to the mound in the bottom of the ninth. It was Hoffman's first save situation since May 5, and maybe his last. Hoffman allowed a Paul Janish single, followed by a pinch-hit homerun by Scott Rolen, knotting the score at four. Chris "Vicious" Heisey then doubled to left and Brandon Phillips drew a walk. Joey "Capone" Votto then came to plate and drove Hoffman's first pitch to the wall in centerfield. Chris Heisey scored easily without a throw and the Reds won their fourth game in a row, 5-4.



"We’re playing good baseball," said Rolen after the game. "We’re making good pitches. We’re taking good swings. We’re putting together good at-bats. You call it whatever you want to call it. But it’s a good team, good players, playing good baseball."

I call it gangster.

The steadfast Reds will send Aaron Harang (2-5, 6.02) to the mound on Wednesday to face Kenshin Kawakami (0-6, 5.79) and the Atlanta Braves at 7:10pm.

Aroldis Chapman (3-2, 4.63) will make his eighth start of the season for the Louisville Bats on Wednesday. Chapman will be facing Leigh Valley at 7:05pm and will attempt to rebound from his last outing when he allowed eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings.

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