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Phillips, Dunn exchange friendly words at second

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer 1:54 AM Thursday, June 11, 2009

There was a word exchange around second base in the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Cincinnati Reds-Washington Nationals game involving Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips and Phillips ran off the field laughing.

Dunn was on the first base when teammate Elijah Dukes hit a hard grounder near second base. Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez fielded it, tagged second for the force on Dunn and threw to first for an inning-ending double play.

Phillips said something to Dunn as he ran off the field and this is Dunn’s version.

“He asked me why I didn’t slide and take out Alex,” said Dunn. “I told him, ‘Because I like Alex better than you. Besides, you wouldn’t have been anywhere near second base.’ ”

Phillips laughed again when told what Dunn said and added, “The play was too quick. Dunn didn’t have time to take Alex out. Besides, he loves us. He’s our homeboy.”

Phillips was taking instruction at the time from batting coach Brook Jacoby and Jacoby said, “Now that’s love. Brotherly love.”

On missing Votto

Joey Votto continues to work out back at Great American Ball Park and manager Dusty Baker was asked if Votto was missed.

The obvious answer is that he is missed like somebody would miss a thumb, but Baker said this:

“We miss him a lot. Of course. Joey means to this team what Albert Pujols means to the Cardinals and what A-Rod means to the Yankees. He is not the player yet of those guys, but he was leading the league in hitting when he left.

“But we know the game waits for nobody and you have to carry on until that person gets back,” Baker added. “I don’t mean to sound cold or crass, but it’s fact, you know? He is doing everything he can to get back here.

“I’ve talked to him and he’s doing better. That’s all I can tell you,” Baker added. “You can tell by his voice. You can tell by anybody’s voice — when they’re sleepy, when they’re happy, when they’re angry.”

Taveras bats 2nd

Baker adjusted his lineup, presenting his 45th different batting order/lineup in the first 58 games. This time he had leadoff hitter Willy Taveras batting second and No. 2 hitter Jerry Hairston Jr. batting leadoff.

“It’s temporary,” said Baker. “Taveras hasn’t been playing much (missed seven of the last 10 games with a tight hamstring). And Hairston has been swinging the bat better. This will give Willy some none at-bats — maybe a sacrifice bunt or a hit-and-run.

“He was struggling before he was gone and he is struggling even more now,” Baker added. “As I’ve said, Willy is my leadoff man. Sometimes you just have to make changes. If a leadoff man ain’t getting on base, he ain’t no leadoff man. When he’s getting on base there is a lot happening.”

Bruce’s buddy drafted

Jay Bruce seemed as happy as if he had just been drafted again because one of his best friends, James Ewing, was drafted in the 12th round Wednesday by the New York Mets out of the University of Southern Mississippi.

“We played Pony League together and we went to high school together (Beaumont, Texas, Westbrook),” said Bruce. He’s a second baseman/third baseman and he is playing in the College World Series, the first time Southern Miss has been there.”

Quote of the day

“Any plan is better than no plan. And it may not make sense to me, but it is your plan.” — Baker, talking to struggling Jay Bruce (3 for 36, .083).

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