Reds

Reds manager Dusty Baker went deep into his dominant bullpen to find someone who could put away the New York Yankees. Jose Arredondo worked out of a ninth-inning jam for his first major league save, Joey Votto hit a three-run homer and Cincinnati held on for a 6-5 victory Saturday. New York scored twice off Sean Marshall in the ninth, but Baker pulled his regular closer in favor of Arredondo and he got the job done. "I could have done without the drama, but we did win the game," Baker said.

BALTIMORE - Scott Podsednik was hitting .203 with one extra-base hit for Lehigh Valley, the Triple A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, when the Red Sox traded for him May 11. It was a move of so little consequence that no press release was typed up to announce it. Once an accomplished player, the 36-year-old Podsednik had gone more than a year without playing in the majors because of injuries. Most teams believed Podsednik was finished. But the Sox needed outfielders, their depth wiped out by a series of injuries.

Ken Griffey homered twice, increasing his career total to 498, and the Reds rallied with three runs in the ninth inning to edge the Montreal Expos, 6-5, yesterday in Cincinnati. Pinch hitter Jacob Cruz hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth off Rocky Biddle (0-4), tying the score, and the Reds won the game on singles by pinch hitter Barry Larkin, Ryan Freel, and D'Angelo Jimenez. Griffey tied teammate Adam Dunn and the Cardinals' Albert Pujols for the major league lead with 17 homers.

By Tony Massarotti, Boston.com Columnist If the Red Sox are feeling good about themselves in the wake of a stretch during which they have gone 10-3, that is certainly a good thing. If the Red Sox are more unified now than they were at the beginning of the season, that is a good thing, too. And if the Red Sox are using the media and criticism as a rallying cause, that is also excellent news. But for a team that has not had a winning record at any point this season, the Red Sox on Wednesday seemed a touch beyond their skis.

WHITES Domaine du Haut Perron Touraine 2008 Cono Sur Bio-Bio Valley Riesling 2008 Belpoggio Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi 2008 Casa Santos Lima “Palha-Canas’’ Branco 2008 REDS Wine That Loves Roasted Chicken NV Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2008 Argento Malbec 2008 Quinta de Ventozelo “Vinzelo’’ Douro 2006

Carlos Zambrano was prepared to do everything he could to earn his 100th career victory. Zambrano pitched into the seventh inning, hit a key home run and added a couple of heads-up defensive plays for good measure to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 win over the Reds last night in Cincinnati. "I felt good," said Zambrano, who didn't allow a hit until Adam Rosales lined a single to left with one out in the fifth inning. "Thank God we won the game. I'm happy about the 100th win. It makes me proud, but the most important thing is we won. " Zambrano gave up two hits and a season-high five walks in 6 2/3...

PHILADELPHIA — From no hits to no defense. Reds right fielder Jay Bruce missed a seventh-inning line drive after losing the ball in the lights, allowing two runs to score, and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of Cincinnati’s shoddy fielding to earn a 7-4 win last night for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series. After Roy Halladay threw the second no-hitter in postseason history in Philadelphia’s 4-0 win Wednesday, the Reds were determined to show their resilience.

Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen each hit two-run homers to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Reds last night in Cincinnati. Matt Morris (10-6) settled down after giving up hits to the first two batters and worked out of his own jam in the sixth for his second consecutive win against Cincinnati. He was the winner in the middle game of a three-game sweep by the Cardinals last week in St. Louis. Jesus Sanchez (0-2) allowed just two base runners, Edgar Renteria's single in the first inning and a walk to Reggie Sanders in the second, until the fourth,...

Tommy Phelps limited Cincinnati to one double over seven innings yesterday, leading the Florida Marlins to a 3-0 victory that ended the Reds' seven-game winning streak. The host Reds were held to one hit for the first time since Sept. 26, 2001, when Philadelphia's Randy Wolf beat them out, 8-0. Hee Seop Choi hit his fourth homer in his last five games against the Reds. Phelps (1-0), making his first start of the season, allowed only two walks and Sean Casey's fourth-inning double.

CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr.'s 537th career homer got upstaged by Bronson Arroyo's first. Arroyo got the loudest and longest ovations yesterday -- and a respectful bow from Griffey -- in a successful Cincinnati debut. He pitched into the seventh inning and hit his first career homer in his first at-bat, leading the Reds to an 8-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs. "I'll take that 50 times over," Arroyo said. His do-it-all debut overshadowed a big moment for Griffey, who moved ahead of two Yankees with his first homer of the season.

Todd Frazier hit a one-out homer in the ninth inning Wednesday night, extending the Cincinnati Reds' best surge of the season with a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The Reds won their fifth in a row, leaving them five games over .500 (24-19) for the first time this season. Frazier connected for his first game-ending homer on the second pitch from Cristhian Martinez (2-1), who came on to start the ninth. It was a fitting ending for a series that has been decided by solo homers — 11 in all during the three games.

After months of wondering when any Hendrick Motorsports car would win again, NASCAR's powerhouse program is on a major roll heading into the Coca-Cola 600. Five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson broke a 16-race victory drought this month at Darlington Raceway for Hendrick Motorsports' 200th win, then won the All-Star race Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Throw in a Sprint Showdown victory by Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a win in the Pit Crew Challenge by Johnson's No. 48 team and it's a non-stop party for owner Rick Hendrick.

BALTIMORE - Scott Podsednik was hitting .203 with one extra-base hit for Lehigh Valley, the Triple A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, when the Red Sox traded for him May 11. It was a move of so little consequence that no press release was typed up to announce it. Once an accomplished player, the 36-year-old Podsednik had gone more than a year without playing in the majors because of injuries. Most teams believed Podsednik was finished. But the Sox needed outfielders, their depth wiped out by a series of injuries.

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's faltering video game company, which received a $75 million loan guarantee to move to Rhode Island in 2010, laid off its entire staff on Thursday. An email sent by the 38 Studios company to workers and obtained by The Associated Press says they were notified of the "non-voluntary and non-disciplinary" layoffs on Thursday. 38 Studios moved from Massachusetts after Rhode Island agreed to back the loan. Officials said the deal would bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars of tax revenue.

BALTIMORE - From a business point of view, the Red Sox have handled it right. They have been going year-to-year with David Ortiz, which, given the DH market and the fact that he is now 36, is the right thing to do. But there's more to it with Ortiz. He can't be treated like any other DH or like any other 36-year-old. He is different. We all know it and the Red Sox know it. He is this team's goodwill ambassador, its most emotional player. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Brian Matusz allowed two hits and struck out nine in 6 1-3 innings, Steve Tolleson and Wilson Betemit both hit two-run homers, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Tuesday night. It was the sixth win in eight games for the AL East-leading Orioles, who improved to 4-1 against Boston this season. Tolleson homered off Felix Doubront in the second inning and Betemit connected against Matt Albers in the eighth. Kevin Youkilis homered for the Red Sox, who were seeking to climb over .500 for the first time this season.

Struggling Alex Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs yesterday, helping Florida's Brad Penny win his third straight start, 5-2, over the Reds at Cincinnati. Marlins reliever Armando Benitez earned his 18th save and set a team record of 26 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. Luis Aquino held the previous mark of 26 1/3 innings in 1994. The Marlins took two of three in the series, blunting a Cincinnati surge that vaulted the Reds into first place in the Central. Florida has won six of its last eight.

Backup catcher Javier Valentín had a three-run homer and four RBIs to help host Cincinnati to an 11-4 victory last night over the St. Louis Cardinals in Jerry Narron's debut as interim manager of the Reds. Narron, who became Dave Miley's bench coach at the start of the 2004 season after serving in the same capacity for the Red Sox in 2003, was promoted earlier yesterday when Miley was fired, along with pitching coach Don Gullett, after the Reds' 27-43 start. Joe Randa hit a solo homer and Felipe López doubled with the bases loaded to back Brandon Claussen (4-4)

BALTIMORE - Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine got creative with his lineup when Kevin Youkilis returned to the roster Tuesday night after spending three weeks on the disabled list. Youkilis started at first base against the Orioles with Adrian Gonzalez moving to right field. Rookie Will Middlebrooks, who became an important member of the lineup when Youkilis was out, stayed at third base. The idea was to maximize the team's ability to score runs. Brian Matusz and three relievers foiled that, holding the Red Sox to a season-low two hits as the Orioles won, 4-1, before 25,171 at Camden Yards.

Felix Doubront pitched well, but Brian Matusz was better as the Orioles beat the Red Sox, 4-1. Nick Cafardo writes about the latest contrived drama in Boston, David Ortiz claiming he gets no respect. The notebook has Cody Ross trying to be optimistic about his foot injury and Scott Podesdnik returning to the majors.