With the acquisition of pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres, the Cincinnati Reds have made it as clear as a crisp post-season October sky; they plan to compete in 2012.

Great American Ballpark – Home of the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Game
2009

The Reds began 2011 with a bang and fans were excited to enjoy a successful season. However the team faltered, in large part due to inconsistent starting pitchers, and the team eventually slipped slowly but surely out of contention. Granted the Reds are in a tough division as they battled regularly against the two teams that eventually made it to the National League Championship game in 2011 – the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, of course, went on to win the World Series.

However the days of Marge Schott are gone, and Reds management no longer favors players based on their lack of facial hair, nor do they rely on the fur from a dearly demised saint bernard for good luck. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty knows what needs require attention and controlling owner Bob Castellini is willing to do what it takes put together a winning team.

Mat Latos is a young, powerful addition to the Reds where they need it most – starting pitching. In 2011 Johnny Cueto (9-5, 2.31 ERA), Mike Leake (12-8, 3.86 ERA) and Homer Bailey (9-7, 4.43 ERA) were the only Reds starters with winning records. Veteran Bronson Arroyo was iffy at best, finishing the season at 9-12. Latos went 9-14 for the Padres in 2011 , but that was without the strength of a stellar offense he will have backing him up as he pitches for the Reds. Latos ERA was 3.47, and he held opponents to a batting average of .233; he is only 24 and the Reds clearly anticipate long term success from him.

In exchange for Latos, the Reds gave up pitcher Edinson Volquez who ended 2010 with a less than impressive record of 5-7 and 5.71 ERA. They also lost Yonder Alonso, who was ranked as the Reds number two prospect; yet Alonso was unable to reach his full potential at first base with Joey Votto firmly entrenched in the starting lineup. Other top prospects were included in the trade as well, but the Reds aren’t overly focused future potential, they are about winning in the here and now.

Walt Jocketty told reporters, “Our offseason objective was to try to upgrade our rotation and add a top-of-the-rotation starter.” Though only time will tell, Lato does indeed seem to fulfill this objective, and if nothing else it is clear the Reds are taking the steps they find necessary to succeed moving forward. It’s hard for any fan to take issue with that.

Lisa has been a fan of the Cincinnati Reds since her family moved to Cincinnati when she was in elementary school. Her favorite player is the great Barry Larkin and she looks forward to him receiving his just rewards and being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Lisa was away at college when the Reds won the World Series in 1990 and forever regrets not being in town to celebrate appropriately. She longs for the day when her Reds win it all again.

Cash Kruth, “Cincinnati Reds land Mat Latos in five-player deal with San Diego Padres,” reds.com

Player Stats, reds.com

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That’s all for today.

PENSACOLA, Fla., Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A farm team, announced its official partnership with the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, based in Gulf Breeze, Florida.  As the official medical provider for the team, the Andrews Institute, an affiliate of Baptist Health Care, will be responsible for providing orthopaedic and sports medicine care for the players and staff of the Blue Wahoos.   

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111209/DC19978)

Since its inception, the Andrews Institute has earned a reputation as one of the premier sports medicine centers in the country.  This reputation, and the reputation of its physicians and sports medicine experts, was a key part of attracting the team, according to Bruce Baldwin, President of the Blue Wahoos.   

“When you think about the best athletes in the world, and who they turn to for sports medicine, the Andrews name is a consistent response,” said Baldwin.  ”We are thrilled to have the Andrews Institute as our official sports medicine provider, and it is a real testament to the community that we have such incredible medical talent in the area, which is being recognized for its expertise by this partnership,” Baldwin continued. 

Baldwin said that the selection of any sports medicine provider for a professional sports team is a very competitive, and very exclusive, process.  Not only did the Andrews Institute, its facilities and its medical specialists have to pass muster with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, but the Institute also had to earn approval from Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds organization.   

“Each of our players, and many of our staff, are assets of, and responsible to, the Cincinnati Reds organization,” said Baldwin. “When you think about what Major League Baseball invests in these athletes, and what the teams are expecting in terms of performance from these athletes, some of whom will play right here in Pensacola, it’s easy to understand how this selection process can be so rigorous and intensive.  Clearly, the Andrews Institute has what it takes, and both the Blue Wahoos and the Reds organizations were impressed with their credentials, their track record, and we were especially happy that the Andrews Institute is right here in the community.” 

The Andrews Institute, a facility of the Pensacola-based Baptist Health Care, is located just minutes from the waterfront stadium where the Blue Wahoos will play, and is named after it’s founder, world-renowned sports medicine physician Dr. James Andrews.  Baptist Health Care President and CEO Al Stubblefield said the partnership with the Blue Wahoos was a great accomplishment for the Andrews Institute.   

“We are honored to have been selected by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos as their official orthopaedics and sports medicine provider,” said Stubblefield. “Baptist Health Care and the Andrews Institute are not only proud to provide world-class medical coverage for the team, but we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to support our community while also enjoying one of the great American past times, watching a game of baseball.”

SOURCE Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

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Any team would be thrilled to have Brandon Phillips(notes). He plays hard every day and has the stats to prove it. Phillips won his third Golden Glove award in 2011 and his first Silver Slugger – he is the best the game has to offer at 2 ^nd base. Brandon Phillips has indicated he wants to stay in Cincinnati for the rest of his major league career, until it comes time for him to retire. If that is truly what Phillips wants, there is no doubt he can make that happen.

Aroldis Chapman looks to take the field for the Cincinnati Reds this September to help the Reds chances for a strong playoff run
Wikimedia Commons

The days of Marge Schott are long gone, and the current majority owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Bob Castellini, is a smart, reasonable man who wants to see this team succeed. Castellini agreed to a one year contract extension for Phillips for the 2012 season for $12 million. He has indicated publicly he’d like to keep Phillips on the Reds. However he isn’t going to sacrifice the entire team for the sake of Phillips, and Brandon Phillips shouldn’t ask him to do so.

Brandon Phillips is at the top of his game, coming off a stellar season, the sky is the limit. He says he wants to remain with the Reds, yet he has also indicated he is unwilling to take a “hometown discount” and compromise to do so. With enormous amount of money players make these days, it is not unusual for a player to take a little less to stay where they want to play and help their team remain competitive.

To say Brandon Phillips is popular in Cincinnati is like saying that kids enjoy candy. Much like his idol Barry Larkin was in the 90′s, Brandon Phillips is the face of the Reds in Cincinnati. He is followed on Twitter by the masses and is considered an all-around good guy. Last year when one of his young followers tweeted him about an upcoming baseball game, Phillips surprised the 14 year old and his teammates by showing up to cheer them on. Talk about making a kid’s day. Perhaps all-around great guy would be a more appropriate description.

Brandon Phillips is the kind of ball player that parents are happy to have their children look to as a role model. If he wants to stay in Cincinnati, and play on a team that is on track to compete in the post season, he may have to compromise. He’s a smart man, and he’s a good man. Chances are Phillips will do what it takes to stay on the team, and in the city, he has grown to love.

Travis Gettys, “Phillips: Contract Talk About Years, Not Money,” wlwt.com

John Fay, “Reds applaud Astros move to American League,” cincinnati.com

‘Duk, “Brandon Phillips shocks Twitter follower by showing up at his game,” Yahoo! Sports

Lisa has been a fan of the Cincinnati Reds since her family moved to Cincinnati when she was in elementary school. Her favorite player is the great Barry Larkin and she looks forward to him receiving his just rewards and being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Lisa was away at college when the Reds won the World Series in 1990 and forever regrets not being in town to celebrate appropriately. She longs for the day when her Reds win it all again.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Thanks for reading! .

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) – The Cincinnati Reds exercised their 2012
club option on second baseman Brandon Phillips on Monday.

Phillips, a two-time All-Star, batted a career-best .300 with 18 home runs and
82 RBI for the Reds this past season, his sixth with the team.

The Reds also declined their team option on closer Francisco Cordero for next
season.

Cordero was 5-3 with a 2.45 earned run average with 42 strikeouts, 22 walks
and 37 saves.

In other Reds news, the team outrighted pitchers Daryl Thompson and Jared
Burton, while starter Matt Maloney was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota
Twins.

Thompson appeared in one game last season and was shelled, giving up five runs
on six hits in a 10-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Burton appeared in six games for the Reds, posting no record with three walks,
three strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA.

In 18 2/3 innings last season, Maloney was 0-3 with a 9.16 ERA, 13 strikeouts
and four walks.

The Sports Network

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Three managers, eight pitchers and the team’s longest game since moving to Washington weren’t enough to keep the Nationals from their sixth consecutive loss.

Joey Votto led off the 14th inning with his second home run of the game, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the Nationals 5-4 Sunday after the teams played 5 hours, 15 minutes.

“It’s too bad somebody wasn’t in scoring position,” said manager Davey Johnson, who was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing that Reds starter Johnny Cueto had hit Michael Morse. “We would have walked (Votto).”

Reds pinch-hitter Yonder Alonso opened the ninth with a home run off Drew Storen, making it 4-all.

Votto hit a full-count pitch from Collin Balester (1-3), Washington’s seventh and last relief pitcher, into the left-field bleachers to push the Reds over .500 for the first time since July 3.

“I knew he was a good (opposite-field) hitter,” Balester said. “He just reached out and put it over the fence and the game ended.”

It was a familiar scene for him: Balester was on the mound for the Reds’ 4-3 walkoff win Friday.

The Nationals matched their worst losing streak of the season. Not since they moved from Montreal in 2005 had they played for so long — the previous longest was 5:13 on Sept. 14, 2007, a 13-inning game against Atlanta.

The Nationals left after the game for Atlanta, where they get Monday off.

After taking over for Johnson, bench coach Pat Corrales was ejected for complaining about a pitch. The Nationals ended up being led by third-base coach Bo Porter.

The Nationals loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 10th, but Ian Desmond lined to shortstop Edgar Renteria, who stepped on second for an unassisted double play.

Cueto and five Reds relievers combined for 19 strikeouts, tying the team record. Cueto fanned 11 in seven innings and maintained his NL ERA lead despite allowing a season-high nine hits. He gave up two runs and finished the day with a 2.05 ERA — up from the 2.03 figure he took into the game. Cueto hit two batters and walked one.

Washington pushed across a run with two outs in the first on a single by Rick Ankiel, Morse’s walk and Danny Espinosa’s single.

Votto hit a solo homer in the first and his 26th of the season to win it.

Jay Bruce put the Reds ahead in the fourth with his 28th homer. The Nationals strung together consecutive inning-opening singles by Desmond, Jayson Werth and Ankiel to make it 2-all in the fifth.

Cueto contributed a surprising single to Cincinnati’s one-run rally in the fifth. Ryan Hanigan, 10 for 21 (.476) in his previous six starts going into the game, led off with a single on his way to going 3 for 4. After Paul Janish flied out, Cueto softly lined a slug bunt past pitcher Jordan Zimmermann’s head into center field for his second hit in 41 at-bats this season. Zimmermann hit Brandon Phillips with a pitch to load the bases and walked Fred Lewis, giving the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Zimmermann, making what is expected to be his last start of the season, allowed six hits and three runs with one walk and six strikeouts in 4 1-3 innings, his shortest of the season. He had made 25 starts and pitched 161 1-3 innings in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2009.

“This start right here makes me want to get back on the mound,” he said. “It’ll make me more ready to get back on the mound in spring training.”

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, 3 for 25 (.120) over his last six games, didn’t start for the Nationals, but he tied it in the eighth by driving in Espinosa from second base with a two-out, pinch-hit single off Aroldis Chapman.

The Nationals took a ninth-inning lead when Desmond led off with a single, stole second and scored on Werth’s single.

Alonso tied it with his third homer since being called up from Triple-A Louisville on July 26. Storen has blown fifth of 39 save opportunities.

NOTES: Reds 3B Scott Rolen has started taking ground balls and live batting practice and hopes to leave soon on a rehab assignment. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 3 to remove bone spurs and fragments from his left shoulder. … After a day off Monday in Atlanta, the Nationals open a three-game series against the Braves with RHP Livan Hernandez making his 36th career start against them, the most by any active pitcher. Milwaukee’s Randy Wolf is next with 26 starts. … Cincinnati RHP Homer Bailey makes his first career home start Monday against the Phillies after going 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in four starts at Philadelphia.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Leave your comments on the news below.

Gotta run!.

Pittsburgh —
Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker kept telling his team it would only take one hit to break out of a woeful slump.

Turns out, it only took one Pittsburgh Pirates error.

Two, actually.

The Reds took advantage of a pair of miscues from Pittsburgh shortstop Chase d’Arnaud to beat the Pirates 3-1 on Wednesday and avoid a three-game sweep.

Johnny Cueto (6-3) gave up one run over six innings to whittle his ERA to 1.98 as Cincinnati found a little punch following two nights of futility against the surprising NL Central-leading Pirates.

Though Baker has stressed it’s not time to panic, Cueto knows the Reds are at a critical point in their season. The defending division champions haven’t won consecutive games in over a month and have dropped off the pace in the crowded Central race.

“What I was thinking is, ‘We need to win today, and I give a good game, a quality start,’” Cueto said. “I need to make good pitches, and the team will help me with runs and we can get a win.”

The Reds didn’t exactly bust out against Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens (8-5), but they didn’t let a little charity go to waste.

An error by d’Arnaud on a routine play to start the game helped Cincinnati plate its first run since Sunday, and a bobble in the fifth extended the inning and allowed the Reds to put together the final margin.

“They were two plays we need to put away,” said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. “That basically was pretty much the difference.”

Chris Heisey and Jay Bruce had two hits apiece for the Reds, who beat Pittsburgh for just the second time in nine tries this year.

D’Arnaud made a pair of huge plays in a 2-0 win Monday. His diving stop in the hole got Pittsburgh out of a bases-loaded situation in the first inning and his first-to-third sprint in the fourth opened the door for a pair of Pittsburgh runs.

The 24-year-old, who was injured sliding into third Monday, sat out Tuesday’s 1-0 victory as a precaution. He didn’t exactly look comfortable upon his return. Heisey led off the game with a routine grounder that d’Arnaud threw into the stands. Heisey would later score on a sacrifice fly from Joey Votto to end Cincinnati’s longest scoreless streak in over a year.

“We were going to try to score a run any way we could early, especially knowing the fact that they don’t give up a lot of runs — especially here in their ballpark,” Baker said.

Miguel Cairo’s sacrifice fly in the second put Cincinnati up 2-0 and, after Andrew McCutchen’s double cut the lead to one, another d’Arnaud mistake gave the Reds some breathing room in the fifth. He had trouble coming up with a two-out grounder by Cueto, extending the inning. Heisey followed with a single and the pitcher came home on a single by Edgar Renteria.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

by Bob McManaman and Jim Gintonio – Jul. 11, 2011 11:03 PM
The Arizona Republic

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Gotta run!.

Updated May 23, 2011 11:06 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

Maybe all the Philadelphia Phillies needed was to see Chase Utley back in the lineup to perk up their slumping bats.

Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez homered to back Cole Hamels, and the Phillies handed the Cincinnati Reds their sixth straight loss, 10-3 on Monday night.

Utley returned after missing the first 46 games with a right knee injury. The five-time All-Star second baseman was 0 for 5, the only starter without a hit.

His teammates did all the damage.

”I don’t know if it was his presence or not, but somebody did something right so we’ll give him credit,” Manager Charlie Manuel said.

A struggling offense that had nine runs combined in the previous six games scored nine by the third inning.

That was more than enough for Hamels (6-2). He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. The lefty is 8-0 with an 1.23 ERA against the Reds, including a five-hit shutout to complete a sweep in last year’s divisional playoff series.

”Him being around gets guys excited and gives us a new energy level,” Hamels said of Utley. ”It’s great to see him.”

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (3-5) allowed nine runs and 10 hits in 2-2/3 innings. His ERA rose from 4.11 to 5.28. It was Arroyo’s worst start since allowing eight runs in three innings against San Diego on April 23, 2010.

Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer for the Reds, who haven’t lost this many in a row since dropping eight straight from July 28 to August 4, 2009.

”We just have to get back on track,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. ”That’s two days in a row we went to the bullpen early and we can’t keep doing that.”

All eyes were on Utley long before the first pitch. Television cameras centered on Utley during batting practice and pregame warmups. He even had a rare interview with reporters on the field.

A sellout crowd of 45,841 — the largest in the regular season in the eight-year history of Citizens Bank Park — gave Utley a rousing standing ovation when he came up in the first. Fans stayed on their feet even after the first pitch. He flied out to center.

”I put in a lot of hard work to get to this point,” Utley said. ”I’m just happy to be out there.”

Polanco followed Utley’s first at-bat with a two-run drive to left for a 2-0 lead. Polanco remained in the No. 3 hole in the lineup while Utley batted second instead of his usual spot.

The Phillies chased Arroyo with seven runs in the third, six coming with two outs. Ibanez had an RBI single. After Domonic Brown lined to left for the second out, John Mayberry Jr. delivered a two-run single. Hamels followed with an RBI single. Rollins then hit a three-run shot out to right to make it 9-0.

”It’s definitely nice to score together as a group,” Ibanez said. ”Hopefully it helps us build momentum. It’s great to see (Utley) out there, to have him back in the lineup. He’s a huge part of our team. We definitely missed him.”

Bruce connected in the fourth, hitting his team-high 12th homer off the right-field foul pole.

Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier struck out in his first career at-bat pinch-hitting in the seventh, but it was a memorable major league debut. On his first swing on the first pitch he saw, the bat flew out of Frazier’s hands and landed in the first row of the stands all the way down the left-field line. It didn’t hit anyone.

Notes: The Reds sent former All-Star right-hander Edinson Volquez to Triple-A before the game. Volquez won 17 games as a rookie in 2008 and started Game 1 of the NLDS vs. Philadelphia last year. …. Phillies RHP Joe Blanton will see renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his injured elbow. … The sellout was the 162nd straight at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play. … The seven runs in the third were a season-high in an inning for the Phillies. … Arroyo fell to 1-6 against the Phillies. … Bruce is 11 for 18 with three homers in his past five games.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 23, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — Maybe all the Philadelphia Phillies needed was to see Chase Utley back in the lineup to perk up their slumping bats.

Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez homered to back Cole Hamels, and the Phillies handed the Cincinnati Reds their sixth straight loss, 10-3 on Monday night.

Utley returned after missing the first 46 games with a right knee injury. The five-time All-Star second baseman was 0 for 5, the only starter without a hit.

His teammates did all the damage.

“I don’t know if it was his presence or not, but somebody did something right so we’ll give him credit,” manager Charlie Manuel said.

A struggling offense that had nine runs combined in the previous six games scored nine by the third inning.

That was more than enough for Hamels (6-2). He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. The lefty is 8-0 with an 1.23 ERA against the Reds, including a five-hit shutout to complete a sweep in last year’s divisional playoff series.

“Him being around gets guys excited and gives us a new energy level,” Hamels said of Utley. “It’s great to see him.”

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (3-5) allowed nine runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings. His ERA rose from 4.11 to 5.28. It was Arroyo’s worst start since allowing eight runs in three innings against San Diego on April 23, 2010.

Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer for the Reds, who haven’t lost this many in a row since dropping eight straight from July 28 to August 4, 2009.

“We just have to get back on track,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s two days in a row we went to the bullpen early and we can’t keep doing that.”

All eyes were on Utley long before the first pitch. Television cameras centered on Utley during batting practice and pregame warmups. He even had a rare interview with reporters on the field.

A sellout crowd of 45,841 — the largest in the regular season in the eight-year history of Citizens Bank Park — gave Utley a rousing standing ovation when he came up in the first. Fans stayed on their feet even after the first pitch. He flied out to center.

“I put in a lot of hard work to get to this point,” Utley said. “I’m just happy to be out there.”

Polanco followed Utley’s first at-bat with a two-run drive to left for a 2-0 lead. Polanco remained in the No. 3 hole in the lineup while Utley batted second instead of his usual spot.

The Phillies chased Arroyo with seven runs in the third, six coming with two outs. Ibanez had an RBI single. After Domonic Brown lined to left for the second out, John Mayberry Jr. delivered a two-run single. Hamels followed with an RBI single. Rollins then hit a three-run shot out to right to make it 9-0.

“It’s definitely nice to score together as a group,” Ibanez said. “Hopefully it helps us build momentum. It’s great to see [Utley] out there, to have him back in the lineup. He’s a huge part of our team. We definitely missed him.”

Bruce connected in the fourth, hitting his team-high 12th homer off the right-field foul pole.

Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier struck out in his first career at-bat pinch-hitting in the seventh, but it was a memorable major league debut. On his first swing on the first pitch he saw, the bat flew out of Frazier’s hands and landed in the first row of the stands all the way down the left-field line. It didn’t hit anyone.

Notes

• The Reds sent former All-Star right-hander Edinson Volquez to Triple-A before the game. Volquez won 17 games as a rookie in 2008 and started Game 1 of the NLDS vs. Philadelphia last year.
• Phillies RHP Joe Blanton will see renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his injured elbow.
• The sellout was the 162nd straight at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play.
• The seven runs in the third were a season-high in an inning for the Phillies.
• Arroyo fell to 1-6 against the Phillies.
• Bruce is 11 for 18 with three homers in his last five games.

Gotta run!.

Maybe all the Philadelphia Phillies needed was to see Chase Utley back in the lineup to perk up their slumping bats.

Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez homered to back Cole Hamels, and the Phillies handed the Cincinnati Reds their sixth straight loss, 10-3 on Monday night.

Utley returned after missing the first 46 games with a right knee injury. The five-time All-Star second baseman was 0 for 5, the only starter without a hit.

His teammates did all the damage.

“I don’t know if it was his presence or not, but somebody did something right so we’ll give him credit,” manager Charlie Manuel said.

A struggling offense that had nine runs combined in the previous six games scored nine by the third inning.

That was more than enough for Hamels (6-2). He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. The lefty is 8-0 with an 1.23 ERA against the Reds, including a five-hit shutout to complete a sweep in last year’s divisional playoff series.

“Him being around gets guys excited and gives us a new energy level,” Hamels said of Utley. “It’s great to see him.”

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (3-5) allowed nine runs and 10 hits in 2 2-3 innings. His ERA rose from 4.11 to 5.28. It was Arroyo’s worst start since allowing eight runs in three innings against San Diego on April 23, 2010.

Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer for the Reds, who haven’t lost this many in a row since dropping eight straight from July 28 to August 4, 2009.

“We just have to get back on track,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s two days in a row we went to the bullpen early and we can’t keep doing that.”

All eyes were on Utley long before the first pitch. Television cameras centered on Utley during batting practice and pregame warmups. He even had a rare interview with reporters on the field.

A sellout crowd of 45,841 — the largest in the regular season in the eight-year history of Citizens Bank Park — gave Utley a rousing standing ovation when he came up in the first. Fans stayed on their feet even after the first pitch. He flied out to center.

“I put in a lot of hard work to get to this point,” Utley said. “I’m just happy to be out there.”

Polanco followed Utley’s first at-bat with a two-run drive to left for a 2-0 lead. Polanco remained in the No. 3 hole in the lineup while Utley batted second instead of his usual spot.

The Phillies chased Arroyo with seven runs in the third, six coming with two outs. Ibanez had an RBI single. After Domonic Brown lined to left for the second out, John Mayberry Jr. delivered a two-run single. Hamels followed with an RBI single. Rollins then hit a three-run shot out to right to make it 9-0.

“It’s definitely nice to score together as a group,” Ibanez said. “Hopefully it helps us build momentum. It’s great to see (Utley) out there, to have him back in the lineup. He’s a huge part of our team. We definitely missed him.”

Bruce connected in the fourth, hitting his team-high 12th homer off the right-field foul pole.

Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier struck out in his first career at-bat pinch-hitting in the seventh, but it was a memorable major league debut. On his first swing on the first pitch he saw, the bat flew out of Frazier’s hands and landed in the first row of the stands all the way down the left-field line. It didn’t hit anyone.

Notes: The Reds sent former All-Star right-hander Edinson Volquez to Triple-A before the game. Volquez won 17 games as a rookie in 2008 and started Game 1 of the NLDS vs. Philadelphia last year. …. Phillies RHP Joe Blanton will see renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his injured elbow. … The sellout was the 162nd straight at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play. … The seven runs in the third were a season-high in an inning for the Phillies. … Arroyo fell to 1-6 against the Phillies. … Bruce is 11 for 18 with three homers in his last five games.

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Tonight marks the first game in the Battle For Ohio.  The Cincinnati Reds are up north to take on the Cleveland Indians and the entire state is wrapped up in baseball fever.

The Reds are one-half game out of first place in the NL Central, trailing the hated St. Louis Cardinals.  The Indians lead the AL Central by five full games over Detroit.

FOXSportsOhio.com has taken our two Ohio baseball experts and asked them to lay out the weekend series.  Hal McCoy discusses the Reds and Sam Amico will introduce the Indians.

Here’s what to expect this weekend at Progressive Field;

The Cincinnati Reds
- by Hal McCoy

STARTING PITCHING

• LHP Travis Wood hit a speed bump in April, losing three decisions after winning his first start. But he has won his last two starts, including 6 2/3 innings of shutout pitching during a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.

• RHP Homer Bailey missed the first six weeks of the season with shoulder inflammation, but has come back magnificently, winning all three starts and posting a 1.89 ERA. He is flashing superb maturity after a slow start as the team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2004 when he was 18 years old.

• RHP Edinson Volquez has given up runs in the first inning in seven of his nine starts and experienced mammoth control problems (34 walks in 48 1/3 innings), but the team has usually rescued him (his record is 3-1). He gave up three runs in the first inning of his last start against the Cubs, then only one hit and one walk with nine strikeouts over his next five innings.

THREE KEYS TO THE SEASON SO FAR

• Teams are pitching around NL MVP Joey Votto and he leads the league in walks, but clean-up hitter Brandon Phillips has made pitchers pay for it and is putting together an MVP type season of his own.

• The team stayed in first or second through April despite missing two of its starters for the first five weeks in Bailey and Johnny Cueto. The team won 11 of 15 when they returned as they combined to go 5-1 in their first six starts.

• Left fielder Jonny Gomes, a major producer last season, is hitting only .180 and is getting less and less playing time, but he does have seven homers and 19 RBI and will be used in this series as the designated hitter.

THE REDS WIN THE SERIES IF. . .

The bats come back alive after scoring just three runs in losing two straight to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates at home.

THE REDS LOSE THE SERIES IF. . .

The starting pitchers don’t go deep into the games and stay away from a heavily used bullpen that is depleted with the loss of Aroldis Chapman. The fire-balling reliver is on the DL with shoulder inflammation after three straight appearances during which he recorded one total out.

The Cleveland Indians
- by Sam Amico

STARTING PITCHING

• RHP Alex White has given up five runs in 12 career innings pitched. He compiled six strikeouts in a win over the Angels on May 7. He previously scheduled start, May 14 vs. the Mariners, was postponed due to rain.

• RHP Josh Tomlin is 5-1 and received plenty of help following his first loss, as the Indians rocked the Royals 19-1 in his last decision. He has pitched 52-2/3 innings and allowed 16 runs, with 27 strikeouts and five walks.

• RHP Carlos Carrasco has tossed 100 and 97 pitches in his two appearances following a stint on the disabled list, a sign the inflammation in his elbow is better. He has surrendered 22 runs in 39-1/3 innings.

THREE KEYS TO THE SEASON

• Surviving injuries is the biggest thing for the Indians, who don’t have much depth when compared to most other division leaders. Grady Sizemore is on the disabled list, and now Travis Hafner and Travis Buck have a couple of sores of their own.

• It sure won’t hurt if second baseman Orlando Cabrera and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera continue at their current pace, both with timely hitting and strong defense. Asdrubal Cabrera leads AL shortstops in hits (48), runs (27), RBI (27) and home runs (seven).

• This is the first weekend of interleague play, and truly is big for both franchises. Each could look back at this series as a telling one, and it’s important for the Indians to get things together again at home following two straight road losses.

THE INDIANS WIN THE SERIES IF …

The young starting pitching (White, Tomlin) continues to impress and the bats come back alive. After pounding out 25 runs against the Royals, the Indians were held to two in two games against the White Sox.

THE REDS WIN THE SERIES IF …

Based on this season, the Reds will need to battle until the bitter end, because the Indians have had a tendency to overcome leads late in games at home.

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