I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992.
I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble.
I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
From his hospital bed, Dusty Baker sent in a makeshift lineup to Chris Speier, who won his second straight game as a substitute manager.
Rookies Didi Gregorius and Henry Rodriguez drove in runs. Rookie Denis Phipps earned his first two Major League hits. Xavier Paul, the Reds' outstanding pinch hitter, started and drove in a run. Joey Votto drove in a run as a pinch hitter.
Johnny Cueto navigated dangerous waters for six shutout innings to win his 18th game thanks to a decision by Speier.
Cueto was not as sharp as he has been. He walked four. He allowed four base runners in one scoreless inning because he picked off Starlin Castro. It was Cueto's eighth pickoff of the season. He is the only righthanded pitcher among the top 10 in pickoffs this season. Only one base runner has been successful stealing a base with him on the mound. Nine base runners have been erased attempting a stolen base.
The Reds' ace pitched around Castro's leadoff triple in the fourth inning.
Speier brought Votto off the bench with the Reds' having scored the tie-breaking run off Cubs' reliever Manny Corpas. With one out, Denis Phipps reached base on an infield single. Ryan Hanigan singled Phipps to third. Gregorius, hitting .316 in his brief career, singled home Phipps with the first run of the game.
This is where Speier made an executive decision bringing arguably the NL's best hitter off the bench to bat for Cueto. Votto singled home Hanigan for the second run then resumed his "day off". Pual singled in Gregorius. Rodriguez doubled to left center to score pinch runner Mike Leake and Gregorius.
That completed the Reds scoring.
A bullpen of Jose Arredondo, Sean Marshall, Logan Ondrusek and Alfredo Simon, who earned his first save of the season, made the runs stand up.
The win guaranteed the Reds' a minimum of a wild card spot. Any combination of Reds' wins or St. Louis Cardinals losses clinches the NL Central.
Dusty Baker is expected back on Friday as the Reds attempt to clinch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cardinals play the Cubs Friday afternoon. A loss in that game by the Cardinals would clinch at least a tie for the Reds.
The Reds are also a season-high 32 games above .500. They are momentarily in a virtual tie with the Washington Nationals for the best record in baseball. The Nationals are playing a night game against the Dodgers.
Also of note, Cubs' starting pitcher Jason Berken struck out four batters in the second inning but only one other batter in his six scoreless innings.
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