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Reds Tidbits (2006 Season)

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Freel played lights out tonight. He always seems to play at such a high intensity and with such passion. Great win by the Reds tonight after such an embarassment last night against the Cards. It was nice to see the Reds not strand runners for a change... well Clayton did, but everyone else came through.
 
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Dispatch

8/9/06

Freel lays it all on the line
Reds right fielder robs Pujols to spark Cincinnati to victory over St. Louis
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — In another life, Ryan Freel no doubt made his living in the circus as a human cannonball. Of course, a good chance exists that the daredevil right fielder would climb inside a howitzer for the Reds right now if the blast helped him catch a baseball.
Freel gave up his body again for a sold-out crowd of 40,094 last night in Great American Ball Park with a fifthinning diving catch onto the warning track cinders to rob Albert Pujols of an extra-base hit and ignite the Reds to a 10-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
"As good a catch as you’ll ever see," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "The play he made the other day against Atlanta and then tonight, they’re two as good of plays you’ll ever see in the outfield. The play tonight was a game-changing play."
The acrobatic catch appeared to trigger the emotion the Reds lacked Monday night during a 13-1 shellacking at the hands of the Cardinals in the opening game of the series.
"I said after the game yesterday, we’ve got to play the opposite of the way we played last night night," Freel said. "I think we did. We had some big hits. That’s what kind of team we have here. We didn’t hang our heads. We came out here and battled."
Of his catch, which preserved a 4-2 lead, Freel initially thought Pujols had hit the ball into no-man’s land.
"I didn’t think I had a chance," he said. "I just stayed running steady and hard as I could," he said. "I started gaining ground on it. I knew he didn’t hit the ball that well. I was able to catch up on it."
The crowd erupted and everyone in the Cincinnati dugout seemed to come along for the ride in the 17-hit attack.
Rich Aurilia homered and matched Adam Dunn by driving in three runs in support of Eric Milton (8-7). The win slashed the Cardinals’ lead over the second-place Reds to 3½ games in the National League Central Division and kept Cincinnati atop the wild-card standings.
Afterward, Freel’s teammates marveled at the catch.
"That was like a gift out," Milton said. "It was like he gave me a Christmas present."
Dunn had a pair of twoout RBI hits in the game, including one in the seventh when St. Louis manager Tony La Russa walked the bases loaded to get to him. He shrugged off that situation and smiled at the mention of Freel’s catch.
"Who knows what happens if that ball gets in the gap," Dunn said. "Two runners could have scored. At the time it was very, very huge. He has his own energy. He can do what nobody on the team can do. That’s because he’s very fast. He utilizes his talent very well."
Milton allowed one earned run in six innings on a night when Narron had no relievers capable of pitching more than one inning. David Weathers, Bill Bray and Eddie Guardado finished off the game.
Narron expected his team to rebound after Monday’s blowout.
"Everybody says our wheels are going to fall off," he said. "They’ve been saying that since, I think, about March 1. We keep hanging in there."
[email protected]
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Dispatch

8/9/06

REDS NOTEBOOK
GM wants to talk to Nationals about Majewski’s health
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said yesterday that he was unsure whether the team would file a grievance against the Washington Nationals for not revealing the shoulder problems relief pitcher Gary Majewski was having prior to his trade to Cincinnati on July 13.
"I don’t know the answer to that one," Krivsky said. "I’m going to lay low for a while and see what happens. I still don’t know the rule.
"I’m happy we have Gary Majewski. And I’m absolutely thrilled that the injury is what it is. It’s a tired shoulder. We can take care of that."
Krivsky isn’t as happy that Washington said nothing about Majewski receiving a cortisone shot in his right shoulder before the All-Star break. Majewski mentioned the shot and a season-long need for anti-inflammatory drugs to reporters Monday after the Reds placed him on the 15-day disabled list with a 1-2 record and a 12.54 ERA in 11 games since the trade.
Krivsky phoned Washington GM Jim Bowden yesterday before noon and was waiting for a return call from the former Cincinnati GM as of 5 p.m.
"I left him a message," Krivsky said. "I just wanted to have a conversation."
In a carefully parsed e-mail published Tuesday by The Washington Post, Bowden indicated that the Nationals answered whatever questions the Reds asked.
"In every trade we make, our medical staff and training staff are always thorough, complete and give full disclosure on any player involved in the transaction as requested by the other club involved in the transaction per major-league rules," it read.
Krivsky said that the Reds had no reason to believe Majewski was injured or to hold off on the deal until he could be examined by team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek.
"I didn’t have any cause or concern based on the information I had at the time to go any further," Krivsky said.
When asked whether he would deal with the Nationals again, Krivsky issued a pointed response.
"I don’t like eliminating teams," he said. "Hopefully people feel like when they are dealing with us they’re dealing straight up. I want people to feel like they’re being dealt with honestly. For me, Wayne Krivsky talking, your credibility is paramount. You lose your credibility and you’re done in this business."
[email protected]
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Caught most of the game last night between 700WLW on my car while picking up dinner and watching on FSN, and I cannot remember an atmosphere like that at GABP. I'm guessing the $1.00 hot dogs left ticket holders with plenty of extra cash in hand for beer, because it sounded like a playoff game.

Great game for Freel ... Web Gem of the Year and 3-for-4 with four standing ovations.
 
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The Reds picked up Todd Hollandsworth from Cleveland today for a player to be named later.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9593156

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Busy Reds acquire OF Hollandsworth from Indians
</td> </tr></tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td width="10"> </td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Aug. 9, 2006
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports </td> <td width="10"> </td> <td align="right"> <script language="JavaScript"><!--// var dclkFeaturesponsor='http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/sponsorships.spln.com/fs/stories/'+vTag+';'+vTarget+';'+uID+';sz=234x42;tile=5;ord='+random+'?'; if (switchDclk != 'off') { if (location.search.substring(1).indexOf('DCLK')>-1) document.write('<input type="text" value="'+dclkFeaturesponsor+'" style="width:">
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</td></tr></tbody></table><!-- T9593156 --><!-- Sesame Modified: 08/09/2006 18:39:03 --> <!-- sversion: 5 $Updated: ekay$ --> CLEVELAND -- Looking for another left-handed pinch-hitter, the Cincinnati Reds acquired outfielder Todd Hollandsworth from the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday for a player to be named.
The bench has been one of the Reds' strengths this season. Their pinch-hitters lead the NL with seven homers and 30 RBI, and are third in the league at .279. Switch-hitter Javier Valentin was the only left-hander regularly available off the bench, when he wasn't catching.
"We played the other night and didn't even have a left-hander on our bench," manager Jerry Narron said.
Hollandsworth hit .237 with six home runs and 27 RBI in 56 games for the Indians. He is expected to join the Reds for their final game of a series against St. Louis on Thursday, when the club will make a roster move to open a spot.
The trade is the latest in a monthlong series of moves by the Reds, who beat St. Louis on Tuesday night to pull within 3½ games of the Cardinals in the NL Central.
The Reds made several deals before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline to bolster their bullpen, acquiring Kyle Lohse, Rheal Cormier, Eddie Guardado, Gary Majewski and Bill Bray.
The underachieving Indians, meanwhile, have traded closer Bob Wickman, first basemen Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez and second baseman Ronnie Belliard.
The Indians recalled outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to take Hollandsworth's roster spot. He hit .258 with four RBI in 20 games with the Indians in June and July.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2005-2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved[/FONT]</td></tr></tbody></table>
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It's been a nice job so far tonight to claw back after giving up that early grand slam.
 
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Another great win! Game-winning 2-run homer by David Ross!

Everybody's chipping in for the Reds right now, and when it looks like they're backed into a corner, they come out throwin' haymakers. After getting whooped in game one of the series, they dish it right back in game two. Then after giving up a grand slam to the fifth batter of the game, they claw back to tie it up, only to fall behind again before stealing the win at the end.

Reds management has really stepped up by offering the discount tickets and hot dogs during this series. I went to last night's game, and it was electric. They're making moves and doing everything they can to get the fans jacked up, and the team is rewarding the fans by playing exciting baseball.

I haven't been this excited about the Reds since '99. Screw that wild card shit. I want the Central! Let the Cards duke it out for the wild card! :biggrin:
 
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Screw that wild card shit. I want the Central! Let the Cards duke it out for the wild card! :biggrin:[/quote]

I've been thinking that too! Just haven't had the balls to say it out loud! But with the Cards as streaky as they are and they didn't do anything to improve their club, I think we can make a run at this division. Let them be the step-sister for once.
 
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Dispatch

8/10/06

REDS 8 CARDINALS 7

2-run shot by Ross in ninth caps comeback

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>AL BEHRMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Catcher David Ross is about to be greeted by his Reds’ teammates following his two-run homer off Cardinals’ closer Jason Isringhausen. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — At the crack of the bat, St. Louis center fielder Jim Edmonds retreated to the wall last night in Great American Ball Park for no good reason.
David Ross had just deposited a pitch from Jason Isringhausen onto the roof of the batter’s eye in dead center and was circling the bases with the winning run for the Reds in an 8-7 come-from-behind victory.
The homer, the fourth of the game for Cincinnati, created pandemonium among the 41,649 fans in the stands and more at home plate where Ross’ teammates waited to welcome him. He tossed his batting helmet into the air and disappeared inside the celebration.
"I saw it going out and couldn’t even hear myself running the bases," Ross said. "It was a lot of fun rounding third and seeing my teammates all waiting for me. It was a rush, definitely a rush."
With the win, the Reds pulled to 2½ games behind the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central. A victory today in the series finale would get them as close as they’ve been to the division lead since July 4.
In any case, Cincinnati has showed through the first three games of the series that it can hang with St. Louis. The Reds demonstrated as much last night by rising from a first-inning grand slam by Edmonds and a 4-0 deficit against Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter.
"We got down early," said Ross, who started the game on the bench. "Guys fought back and had some great atbats. All year long if we can sniff it, we’re going to make it close at the end."
Adam Dunn began the comeback in the second inning with his 34 th home run. In the fourth, Scott Hatteberg and Edwin Encarnacion each touched Carpenter for a homer to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Cardinals answered with a tworun homer by Scott Spiezio in the fifth. But Aaron Harang, who hadn’t given up multiple homers in a game since May 10, struck out Albert Pujols with the bases loaded in the sixth to keep the deficit at three runs.
"I think it got the guys pumped up," Harang said. "I get in that situation, but I’m still bearing down. You could easily want to hand the ball over or give in and not focus on the next pitch. I was able to make some good pitches and get him out. I know the crowd definitely let us know they were here."
The Reds tied the score at 6 with three runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Dunn and a two-run double by Brandon Phillips. The Cardinals broke the tie with a run in the eighth against Bill Bray, but the Reds refused to fold.
Relievers Todd Coffey, Kent Mercker and Ryan Franklin (2-5) combined to get the final five outs for the Reds. Isringhausen walked Rich Aurilia with one out in the ninth and Ross followed with the 442-foot homer.
"I was looking for something out over the plate," Ross said. "The first pitch he threw was a cutter out over the plate. I just missed that one, which was a decent pitch to hit. Usually, a guy like that doesn’t give you another one to hit.
"The (home run) was a cutter up. He throws so hard that if you make decent contact it’s going to go. It’s the sign of a good team. This team has a flair for the dramatic."
[email protected]
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Dispatch

8/10/06

NOTEBOOK
Even Freel got kick out of his ‘neat’ handiwork
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — Reds rightfielder Ryan Freel usually avoids watching televised highlights of his acrobatic defensive plays.
But a bout of insomnia after the win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night put him in front of the television long enough to see replays of the diving catch he made to rob Albert Pujols of an extra-base hit in the fifth inning.
"I thought it was pretty neat," Freel said. "I made another good one in center field, but we were getting blown out by eight runs. It didn’t mean as much. The thing is you finally make a play that has an impact on the game. It was that much more enjoyable."
The sellout crowd of 40,094 gave him multiple standing ovations.
"The fans here are fantastic," Freel said. "We’d like to see more of them more often. It really elevates your game."
Freel’s free-wheeling clubhouse persona has led to a standing joke about him having an imaginary friend. He said he watched the replay with him.
"I’ve got a little (guy) in my head," Freel said. "His name is Farney. I said, ‘Hey Farney, I don’t know if that was you that caught that ball, but that was pretty good if that was you.’ "
Left - handed bat

The Reds acquired veteran outfielder Todd Hollandsworth from the Cleveland Indians yesterday for a player to be named or cash.
"We’ve been looking for that left-handed bat off the bench," Cincinnati general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "He knows the National League and he’s used to pinch-hitting. He’s played all three outfield spots, so he’s a very versatile guy."
Hollandsworth, who batted .237 in 56 games for Cleveland, is expected to arrive before today’s game against St. Louis.
Returned call

Washington general manager Jim Bowden called Krivsky during the game Tuesday to discuss the acrimony that followed the revelation that reliever Gary Majewski had shoulder problems when the Nationals traded him to the Reds on July 13.
Krivsky said he called Bowden and left a message before noon Tuesday and had not heard from him by 5 p.m.
"He returned my call," Krivsky said. "I had some things I wanted him to hear. And he countered. And I countered and so forth and so on.
"He feels like he complied. I think we feel there are some gaps. I’m just ready to leave it alone. We’ll let the whole thing run its course."
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http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/reds/daily/081006redsnotes.html

Fantastic catch earns rave reviews
By Hal McCoy
Staff Writer

CINCINNATI | Ryan Freel said not even Farney believed that Freel made the stupendous diving catch on Albert Pujols Tuesday.

Farney? Who's Farney?

"He's a little guy who lives in my head who talks to me and I talk to him," said Freel, acting as if he finally crashed into too many walls, ran into too many catchers and dived into too many dugouts.

"That little midget in my head said, 'That was a great catch, Ryan,' I said, 'Hey, Farney, I don't know if that was you who really caught that ball, but that was pretty good if it was.' Everybody thinks I talk to myself, so I tell 'em I'm talking to Farney.' "

Freel said he seldom watches his games on TV, but did take a peek or two at The Catch.

"I don't mean to boast or brag, I only watched the catch on TV twice and said, 'OK, that's enough of that,' but the angle I had to take, an inch in any other direction and it would have been a different outcome.

"I made a catch in center field once here against the Cubs, but we were getting blown out, and I made a catch near the dugout in Wrigley Field that everybody said was great, but we lost that game, too," Freel said. "To finally make one that affected the outcome of the game made it special. Ken Griffey Jr. told me I finally made his top 10, and he has been around a long time so that's pretty prestigious."

After the catch in the fifth inning, every time Freel stuck his head out of the dugout he received a standing ovation.

"The fans here are fantastic," he said. "I'd just like to see more of 'em more often.

As he talked, Freel displayed two scabs on his right knee, two scabs on his left knee, a scab on his left elbow, a large scab on his right forearm, and open wound and bruises on his right side and his right shoulder was encased in ice.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa not only put the catch in the top 10 he's witnessed (and remember he has Jim Edmonds in center field), but he said, "I actually applauded in our dugout after the catch, and I've only applauded for an opponent about a half a dozen times in my career. Of course, I was muttering under my breath."

Wayne's wild world

As to the question, 'Does Wayne Krivsky ever sleep?', manager Jerry Narron said, "Probably not."

The Reds GM made another move Tuesday, acquiring journeyman/utility outfielder Todd Hollandsworth from the Cleveland Indians for cash or a player to be identified later. He is the 17th major-league player Krivsky has added since becoming GM on Feb. 8, and 13 of them remain on the roster.

"It would be a lot easier if you had all the pieces from Day 1," Narron said. "Wayne is doing everything he can to put a winning team on the field, and he got a late start (hired a week before spring training), so basically he came to this team with a team that was made up by four different GMs."

The additions still wearing Reds uniforms: 1B Scott Hatteberg, RHP Bronson Arroyo, C David Ross, 2B Brandon Phillips, IF Juan Castro, LHP Eddie Guardado, SS Royce Clayton, RHP Gary Majewski, LHP Bill Bray, LHP Rheal Cormier, RHP Kyle Lohse, RHP Ryan Franklin and OF Todd Hollandsworth.

The four who didn't stick, RHP Esteban Yan (released), RHP Joe Mays (at Class AAA Louisville), and OFs Quinton McCracken (released) and Cody Ross (traded to the Marlins).

Of Hollandsworth, National League Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1996, Krivsky said, "We've been looking for a veteran left-handed hitter off the bench. Not only does he know the National League, he is used to pinch hitting and can play all three outfield spots."

Hollandsworth, 33, was born in Dayton, but left at an early age and also has played for the Dodgers, Rockies, Rangers, Marlins, Cubs, Braves and Indians.

On some nights, Narron had only Javier Valentin, a switch-hitter, on the bench to be a left-handed pinch hitter. On Monday, when Valentin caught, Narron had all right-handers in the dugout — Rich Aurilia, David Ross, Jason LaRue, Juan Castro and Chris Denorfia, who is expected to be optioned to Louisville today when Hollandsworth arrives.

He was hitting .237 with six homers (two against the Reds) and 27 RBIs in 56 games for the Tribe, and he has a career .273 major-league average.

Stott sent to Phillies

The Reds sent minor league right-handed pitcher Zac Stott to the Phillies on Wednesday as the player to be named in the trade for pitcher Ryan Franklin. Stott, 23, who pitched for the Dragons earlier this season and last, was 1-2 with a 2.53 ERA for high Class A Sarasota.

Hot Weathers

When Reds relief pitcher David Weathers threw what he thought was strike three to Albert Pujols in the seventh inning Tuesday and umpire Tom Hallion called it a ball, Weathers was not happy and walked in circles around the mound, never looking at Hallion, never saying a word.

When Weathers climbed to the mound and got ready to pitch, Hallion was standing in front of the plate, mask off, staring at Weathers. When Weathers retired Pujols on the next pitch, he yelled at Hallion, "Keep your mask on and stay behind the plate."

Weathers then got in Hallion's face, "But I didn't say much because he was F-bombing me left and right. Finally I said, 'Are you finished?' and walked away."

Shaw returns

Jeff Shaw walked away from the game five years ago to spend time with his family, even though the Washington Court House resident/native was only 35 and a performing closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He pitched for the Reds from 1996-98 and after he signed a contract for a hometown discount, "When (GM) Jim Bowden told me he wouldn't trade me," he was traded not long after agreeing to the deal.

Shaw, who had 90 saves in two years as Cincinnati's closer, was in the Reds clubhouse before Wednesday's game, looking as fit as the day he threw his last major-league pitch.

Asked if he is ready to put on a uniform, Shaw smiled and said, "No, I just turned 40." Told that many pitchers are older than 40, he said, "Yeah, but most of them throw with the other hand," and he waved his left arm.
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Damn. Denorfia just can't catch his break.
 
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Dispatch

8/11/06

Players confident despite setback
Punchless Reds settle for split of big series

Friday, August 11, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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CINCINNATI – The new hairdo failed to improve Bronson Arroyo’s old and now official streak of bad luck yesterday afternoon in Great American Ball Park.
"I’m about at the end of my rope with superstitions," said Arroyo, who recently traded his rock star shaggy look for cornrows. "I’m either going to bring a live chicken in here or just go pitch. I felt great. I felt like I had good stuff, the best stuff I had in a while."
In the end, the stuff couldn’t help Arroyo or help the Reds capture a third consecutive game from the St. Louis Cardinals. Rookie Anthony Reyes stuffed the Cincinnati offense for five innings and the St. Louis bullpen completed the job in the 6-1 victory.
The loss meant the Reds split four games with the Cardinals and remained precisely where they were at the start of the series – 3½ games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.
While packing for the team’s trip to Philadelphia, Cincinnati players clung to the positives gleaned from their two wins in the series. The come-from-behind 8-7 victory Wednesday night with Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter pitching particularly pleased them.
"A split here shows we can stand toe to toe with them," first baseman Scott Hatteberg said. "I think we can take some confidence in knowing that. We could easily have taken one out of four.
"We battled against Carpenter, and I think that game was a big turning point. It was a great character game. I definitely felt confidence coming off that. We just couldn’t figure Reyes out. He had a great change-up going."
While Reyes (4-5) dazzled through five two-hit innings, Arroyo spent seven innings in and out of jams. St. Louis scored an unearned run in the first because of a throwing error by second baseman Brandon Phillips.
After the first, Jim Edmonds, Chris Duncan and Scott Spiezio each touched Arroyo (9-8) for a home run to help build a 5-0 lead.
"Obviously, I got hurt by the long ball," said Arroyo, who now has failed in 10 consecutive attempts to post his 10 th win. "You can’t get down by five in the middle of the ballgame and expect to come back every night like we did last night."
Javier Valentin broke up the shutout with a pinch-home run in the seventh. In the eighth, Adam Dunn lined a shot that appeared to go above the yellow line at the top of the bullpen fence in right, hit the cage netting and bounce back onto the field. Dunn, however, didn’t get the home run.
First base umpire Larry Young ruled the ball hit the line and caromed back onto the field. The possible homer became a single. Even that kind of day wasn’t a total loss.
"We’re so evenly matched," Dunn said. "The two lopsided games, one team just broke it open. Today, we didn’t execute. Reyes pitched great. He kept us off balance.
"I don’t know how many games we’ve got left. But for us to be 3½ games back, that’s one good week for us and we’re ahead. So it’s not time to scoreboard watch yet."
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Dispatch

8/11/06

REDS NOTEBOOK
Trade puts Hollandsworth in middle of playoff race
Friday, August 11, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — Todd Hollandsworth jumped into the family car early yesterday morning and drove from Cleveland to Great American Ball Park and a pennant race.
The Reds acquired the outfielder Wednesday in a trade with the Indians primarily as a left-handed bat off the bench. Hollandsworth, 33, was happy not to be 27 games out of first place.
"We’ve got a chance, and that’s what it’s all about," he said. "We were just talking about it the other day (in Cleveland). You get to the point where you’re trying to figure out what your motivation is going to the yard.
"Obviously, you have your self-motivation in order to do your job. But at the same time, when you’re in the middle of a pennant race, you’ve got that easy motivation, that easy adrenaline and that easy kick in the pants. That’s a good thing."
Hollandsworth was the National League rookie of the year in 1996 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has been to the postseason with the Dodgers and Florida Marlins.
"There are a lot of good guys (in Cleveland), and it’s a team that I think is going to be good in the future," he said. "This is a good place for me. In a 24-hour span, I went from worst to first. You can’t complain about that."
Hollandsworth pinch hit in the ninth inning and grounded out. To make room on the roster, the Reds optioned outfielder Chris Denorfia to triple-A Louisville.
Encarnacion at third

Manager Jerry Narron showed yesterday that he likes what he has seen lately from third baseman Edwin Encarnacion by starting him over veteran Rich Aurilia for a fifth consecutive game. (Aurilia has had one start at second base during that span.)
"Eddie’s been playing really well," Narron said. "I’d like to have Richie and Eddie in the lineup at the same time. I don’t think anybody can argue with playing Edwin Encarnacion."
Short hops

St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen was out of the lineup because of back spasms. He left the game Wednesday night in the third inning with the same problem. … In the first three games of the series, the Reds sold 130,000 hot dogs as part of a $1 a dog promotion. … The Reds had three straight sellouts for the first time since June 2004.
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