Ramon Hernandez knocked in the winning run in the last of the eighth inning as the Cincinnati Reds did what they do best.
They came from behind to score the winning run in their last at-bat for the seventh time in eight wins.
The Reds evened their homestand at 3-3, while putting the skids on the San Diego Padres win streak at eight. They won the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 before the Padres came to town.
It looked as though they might be swept by the hottest team in MLB until Scott Rolen led off the eighth with a single. After Jonny Gomes flied out, Jay Bruce doubled and advanced to third on an errant throw as Rolen scored the tying run.
Hernandez then knocked in Bruce with a single to end the scoring. The Reds had the bases loaded with only one out but could not produce any more damage. Orlando Cabrera flied out and Joey Votto went down swinging.
Arthur Rhodes pitched the eighth inning and notched his first win of the year against a lone defeat. He pitched a perfect inning while recording one strikeout.
Homer Bailey started for the Reds and held the Padres scoreless until the fourth inning. David Eckstein singled and scored on a home run by the Reds most recent nemesis, Adrian Gonzalez.
Bailey's performance is hard to analyze. In his first three innings he was outstanding. After that, he was a completely different character.
In the sixth inning, he was roughed up again for two runs.
Jay Bruce got his average up to nearly his weight on a 3-4 outing with a run and an RBI.
Rolen left the yard leading off the sixth inning. It was his team high fifth home run of the season. He was 2-3 while scoring three runs and knocking in one.
Hernandez was 2-4 with two knocked in.
Coco Cordero did his usual damnedest to give me a stroke. The man drives me nuts, but I can't talk about it right now.
After getting the first two batters out, he then walked Nick Hundley and Tony Gwynn.
He then got former Red, Jerry Hairston Jr., to fly out to Drew Stubbs to end the game. It was then that he pointed to the man in the moon. I believe he and Carlos Zambrano worship the same moon man.
Cordero recorded his seventh save in eight attempts, second in the senior circuit.
The Reds are 8-11 and are now looking down at the Pittsburgh Pirates who treated them so badly last weekend. The Bucs have suddenly lost six in a row and are firmly seated in the Central Division cellar.
They have an off day tomorrow and begin a three game series on Tuesday with the Houston Astros before traveling to St. Louis on Friday.
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