There's no good way to type the disgusted sound I'm making. “Ugh” isn't quite right, nor is “Blech.” “Bah” gets across the disillusionment, but not the disappointment. Maybe “Gah.” Yes, that's it.

Gah. I'm going to bed.

The Reds ended their four-game winning streak tonight when the offense failed to make an appearance. Apparently a man named “Wandy” is more intimidating than I would have thought. The spectacle resulted in a 2-5 loss to the Astros that knocked the Reds back into sharing fourth place with the Cubs. The Cubs' win a few minutes later knocked the Reds all the way back to fifth.

Though the Reds managed to score first in the fifth inning when Adam Dunn doubled in Sean Casey, the Astros came back in the bottom of the inning. Ramón Ortiz allowed small hits to get in the Astros first run, a medium sac fly to get in the go-ahead run, and a super-gulp three-run homer by Morgan Ensberg to give the Astros of their score for the rest of the game.

In the top of the ninth, Brad Lidge got into an uncharacteristic jam when he loaded the bases with Valentín coming up with one out. Surprisingly, though, Javy did not hit the grand slam, but instead grounded out to second and plated the Reds last run of the night.

Well, that's just depressing. I think I'll post my Freel South Park character after all, since we could all use a chuckle.

Tomorrow, Brandon “Pickle Man” Claussen takes on Andy Pettitte. Here's hoping “Andy” is less intimidating than “Wandy” and the bats show up.

Go Reds.

Inspired by Joel, whom I've nearly forgiven for getting a Freel character up literally minutes before mine appeared.

Chicago's 14-3 win over Florida brings them back into the tie for fourth with the Reds. However, since the Cubs don't play until the evening tomorrow, should the Reds sweep the series with a win in the afternoon, they'll have fourth all to themselves for no less than five or six hours. It would also set them up well for the more difficult legs of this long-ass road trip.

Quite a win today with Luke Hudson holding the Pirates to one run through six innings. I don't know who that guy was posing as Hudson earlier this season, but I'm glad he's gone.

It's 3:31 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (not Eastern Daylight Time). The Reds have beaten the Pirates for the third time in a row, this time by a 7-2 margin.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are currently up 6-3 against the Florida Marlins in the bottom of the seventh inning.

So, for at least the next 35 minutes or so, the Reds have fourth place all to themselves. Ooh, that's nice. I could get used to that.

Go Reds! (and Go Marlins!)

Reasons why today is a great day:

• I got to sleep in.
• I won box seats for the Indianapolis Indians' game of my choice from a local radio station, and the Bats are coming to town next weekend.
• We went out to lunch at the new Chinese buffet in town and, according to my fortune, my investments will soon be paying off.
• While Jon and I were driving, we passed the couple who had been our best friends until suddenly, just over a year ago, they turned on us without explanation and got me fired from my job. Flipping them off was exquisite.

How could things get better?

Jon's high school reunion is tonight, and since we went to the same high school, I'll be seeing a lot of people who were jerks to me back in the day. Plus, the Reds play in less than an hour. Really, there's lots of potential on both fronts.

Go Reds!

PITTSBURGH, PA -- Aaron Holbert, the 32-year old who took Ryan Freel's place on the Cincinnati roster last week when Freel went on the disabled list, got his first major league hit tonight at the Pirates' PNC Park.

The Reds were quick to retrieve the ball on Holbert's behalf. The bench wanted to make sure he had the souvenir, but they also apparently needed the ball to prove to Holbert that the hit had finally happened.

“At his age, sometimes he doesn't remember things,” explained Reds third-baseman Edwin Encarnación.

Holbert recently became the Reds' hottest human-interest feature when he was called up nine-and-a-half years after his only previous major league stint. Holbert has been the poster child for patience and perseverance and an inspiration for his teammates.

“Yeah, Pops is really an inspiration,” said right fielder Austin Kearns. “It just goes to show that if you wait around long enough, and play on bad enough minor league teams, someone's bound to feel sorry for you eventually.”

Another noteworthy hit in tonight's game came from Aaron Harang, who broke an 0-for-49 hit draught when he singled in Adam Dunn to score the first run of the game.

“So many people made this big deal about me not getting a hit,” said Harang. “But it's not like it took me 32 years or anything. Besides I'm a pitcher. It's not like I'm a pinch hitter going up there.”

Does a guy who doesn't get his first major league hit until he's 32 get a hard time from his teammates after the game?

“Of course not,” said center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr. as he walked past carrying a dozen eggs, a can of shaving cream, and a large wooden spoon. “We'll just say congratulations and politely ask him not to wait so long for the next one.”

I haven't the time tonight to write up anything properly humorous; however, I did take a couple screenshots today that amused me, so I thought I'd share.

Return of a Former Team
Along the same lines as that Return of a Former Red post over at RLN, this story in the Enquirer resurrects a team now gone.

Cruz, How Could You?
This shot from the Gameday had me wondering whether the Reds had pulled that trading-a-guy-in-the-middle-of-a-game trick. Those would be Bowden-caliber shenanigans, for sure.

Things you're least likely to see in the Reds coverage in the morning:

Casey: “…”
Reds First Baseman Struck Dumb

A Dose Of Reality. And Brigitte.
Fear Factor Falls Through, Standridge To Appear On The Surreal Life

Reds, Nationals Brawl
Lopez Tackles Larkin, Says Larkin Abandoned Him

Ortiz Searches For Winning Record, Finds Futility
Reds Starter Holds Nats to Two Runs; Gets Loss

Um, yeah.

Things you're least likely to see in the Reds coverage in the morning:

Holbert Attacks Elderly Lady In Store
Says He Couldn't Keep Waiting For Her To Find Her Coupons

Can Library Work Be Far Behind?
Freel Swears Off Stealing Bases As Injury Concerns Mount

Lindner Calls Aurilia, But No Trade
Aurilia: 'He Asked If My Refrigerator Was Running'

Hudson Not Long In The Face
Reds Starter Pitches Strong Through Seven, Walks None, Strikes Out Five

Oh, wait…