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Reds' 1st road trip of season 'extremely important'

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 7:08 PM Sunday, April 12, 2009

CINCINNATI — Two things taunted and haunted the Cincinnati Reds last season — well, more than two, but these two glowed in the dark.

They couldn’t win on the road (31-50) and they couldn’t win games within their division (32-52).

That’s why even though the Reds embark tonight on their first trip of 2009 — an 11-day, 10-game ordeal — manager Dusty Baker calls it an extremely important trip.

Not only is it 10 games on the road, it is 10 games against three members on the National League Central (Milwaukee, Houston, Chicago).

They were 10-8 against the Brewers last season, but 3-12 against the Astros, 5-10 against the Cardinals, 8-13 against the Cubs and 6-9 against the Pirates.

“Yes, this is a big, important trip,” said Baker. “It’s one of the longest of the year and I’d rather do it now where we’re still strong. The later it gets and hotter it is, you are low on energy and it takes it out of you.

“Plus all the games are in the division and that’s two places we have to improve on big-time — on the road and in the division and we have both of them right now.”

And Baker is seeking the .500 level.

“We just have to get back to .500 and stick around .500 until you make the break. That’s the secret,” he said. “All the good teams I played on did that — stick around .500 until you can make your break from the pack.”

1 swing, 3 outs

Edwin Encarnacion hit into a triple play in the eighth with Brandon Phillips on second and Jay Bruce on first.

It was a hit-and-run, so both runners were on the move when Encarnacion hit a soft fly to shallow left. Shortstop Jack Wilson snagged the broken-bat bloop and snapped a throw to second to double off Phillips. Second baseman Freddy Sanchez threw quickly to first to triple off Bruce.

The Reds last hit into a triple play on April 21 of 2007 when catcher David Ross grounded into a 5-4-3 triple play.

It was the first one long-time player and long-time manager Baker ever saw.

“When I played for the Dodgers, I was in the bathroom and when I came out everybody was grabbing their gloves and I said, ‘What happened,’ and somebody said, ‘Triple play.’”

Forgiving 'The Kid'

Baker admits he was angry at Jay Bruce after Saturday’s game, so hot that the steam emanating from his ears had nothing to do with Tabasco sauce.

Bruce was doubled off first to end Saturday’s game on a fly ball to center field as he ran head down around second and toward third.

“Jay came into my office before I could go to him,” said Baker. “I was going to wait until before today’s game. But he felt so bad he came in himself. He knew the situation and he even told Edwin Encarnacion before the play, ‘One out.’

“He felt terrible,” said Baker. “I was so mad afterward, but after I saw how he felt it was hard to stay p.o.’d. It’s like your kid coming to you and saying, ‘Dad, I messed up.’ You are about to spank him, but you say, ‘OK, son, don’t do it again.’”

Bruce is a lot like Homer Bailey. People forget their ages. Both are 22. “And Jay just turned 22 like last week,” said Baker. “I didn’t know that he was only 22.”

Quote of the day

Baker after Joey Votto injured his foot sliding home Saturday, but stayed in the game and also played Sunday: “He’s a little sore. But that’s Joey Votto. Joey Votto is a man and that’s what a man does. He comes to play.”

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