CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

The Reds opened the week with a big showdown series with the Cards in St. Louis. The Reds entered the series one game ahead in the division. They lost two of three; winning only a gritty 9-8 come-from-behind middle game. Joey Votto came back from injury with a vengeance.

Cincinnati native, Ken Griffey Jr, announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. What might have been...

To close the week, the Reds were in the Nation's Capitol for a series with the improved Nationals. They won two out of three and trailed the Cards by a half-game when all was done.