Joey Pipp Votto

Joey Votto is healthy enough to play after missing three games with the flu, yet he was not in the starting lineup Sunday. Ramon Hernandez, who is the starting catcher, has been subbing at firstbase. Ryan Hanigan, the backup catcher, has been behind the plate in Votto's absence.

Far from the famous Wally Pipp scenario in which Pipp missed a game with a hangover, a young Lou Gehrig took over for the next 2,000 plus games, the Reds have played so well in Votto's absence that manager Dusty Baker gave him another day off. The Reds won all three of his missed starts coming into Sunday.

"He's close. He's real close. If we weren't playing so well, he'd be in," Baker said. "This way he can get his strength back. It will be great weather where we're going (Arizona). We added up everything."

"He is such a team guy. I talked to him too he said, 'yeah we're going to good.' He said he would have felt bad if he played and we lost. He asked 'what if we win tonight' I said you're playing Monday," Baker said.

Hernandez, while not dazzling, held his own at firstbase. He also contributed four hits in nine at bats. Hanigan threw out a runner attempting a steal in a key moment on Friday night. He also contributed two hits in the win over the Cardinals on Friday.

And as often happens with pregame plans in baseball. Votto entered the game Sunday in the seventh inning on a double switch with Hernandez replacing Hanigan, who made the last out of the sixth, at catcher.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh against Kyle McClellan, Votto declared himself fit with his fourth home run of the season to the leftfield, no less.