CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

Mini-camp continued for the Bengals. Jonathan Joseph broke his foot but should be ready for training camp.


The Reds opened a 3-game series in St. Louis on Tuesday with Aaron Harang on the mound. He did a good job but...when you leave 15 men on base something is wrong. Yes, they lost 4-3 giving up a run in he ninth.


On Wednesday, they sent Bronson Arroyo up against the Red Birds with no better luck. He gave up two homers in the seventh and they lost 6-4. Scott Hatteberg had a round tripper for the Reds. Arroyo is 0-5 in his last six starts.


On Thursday afternoon the Reds drafted a high school catcher in the first round of the MLB amateur draft. 18 year old Devon Mesoraco of Punxutawney, PA said he wants to be the next Johnny Bench. Bench was taken in the second round in 1965. Also in the first round, the Yankees selected a Moeller High School product; 6-11 pitcher Andrew Brachman out of NCST. That evening, Kyle Lohse broke the Reds losing streak with 8 1/3 strong innings of 7-hit pitching. Home runs by Ken Griffey Jr (13), Edwin Encarnacion (4) and Adam Dunn (15) fueled the 4-1 win over the Cards. Encarnacion went 4 for 4.


On Friday night, the weekend series with the Indians opened with newcomer Homer Bailey getting his first major league start. He lasted five innings, showed signs of being really good and signs of being a rookie, and got the 4-3 victory. Old timer, Ken Griffey Jr hit homer for Homer as did Brandon Phillips.



On Saturday afternoon at River Downs, Chad Johnson raced a race horse for charity. It was set up the same way Chris Collinsworth did it in 1993. Johnson won - Collinsworth lost.

I have no idea how many times this has happened this year but I'm sure it is many times. The Reds led the Indians 6-4 going into the 8th inning. Matt Belisle had pitched a good game while Josh Hamilton, Jeff Conine and Griffey had all homered. The game was now in the hands of the bull pen. They gave up two in the eighth and two in the 11th for an 8-6 loss. What a season.

On Sunday, Aaron Harang pitched a beautiful seven innings and the relief pitchers did their job as the Reds won the last of the series 1-0 in 12 innings. Josh Hamilton made a great catch in the 10th and a better throw to preserve the shut-out before Alex Gonzalez knocked in the game-winner with a single.

How about Sycamore High School and University of Cincinnati grad Kevin Youkilis? He is playing a solid first base for the first place Boston Red Sox and is near the top in batting average in the American League!