CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Monday the Reds had an off day but made a trade while the players rested. Kyle Lohse, an inconsistent but talented right handed pitcher, was traded to the Phillies for Matt Maloney, a 23 year old left handed pitcher that has been assigned to their double-A team in Chattanooga.

On Tuesday night the Reds got back at it with a game against the Nationals in Washington DC. Youngster Bobby Livingston started and did well until the 5th inning when he couldn't get anyone out. Cincinnati left more than a dozen runners on base and lost 6-3.

On Wednesday night the losing continued. Bronson Arroyo got lit up by the Nationals for four runs in the first inning and three more in the second. The Reds went on to lose 7-2. Washington's GM with the leather pants could be heard giggling from his luxury box.

On Thursday night the Reds went for the sweep. They sent rookie left hander Phil Dumatrait to the mound in his first major league appearance and that did the trick. The pitiful Redlegs lost their third straight to the lowly Nationals and fifth straight overall. Dumatrait lasted into the fourth inning and gave up six runs. In the second inning, Adam Dunn hit a homer and Alex Gonzales pounded a 2-run homer but that was not enough as they lost 7-3.

On Friday night the Reds got the big sticks out and used them on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dunn, Griffey, Hatteberg and Gonzales all homered and Belisle made one of his better starts of the year going six innings and allowing three runs. Cincinnati won the first of this series 13-4 and broke their five game losing streak.

When Saturday night rolled around, the Reds were ready for another slugfest. Bobby Livingston did alright for a five but blew a 5-1 lead in the sixth. The score went back and forth and into extra innings tied at seven. Adam Dunn hit a 2-run homer in the tenth and David Weathers was able to hold the Pirates to a solo homer in the bottom of the inning for the 9-8 win. Edwin Encarnacion and Jeff Keppinger homered earlier for the Reds.

On Sunday, the Reds were rained out. They finished the week with a 47-64 record and still 12-1/2 games out of first in their division. Fifty-one games remain on the schedule.