The Reds needed every one of their nine runs to take the final game of the three-game series against the Diamondbacks and avoid the sweep last night with a final score of 9-8.

Dave Williams took the mound, which always makes for a scary time for Reds fans and tonight was no exception. Williams lasted five innings, allowing five runs (earned) on six hits and two walks to get the win. Just two days before, Elizardo Ramirez allowed just one earned run in four innings for the loss.

Rick White took over for Williams in the sixth and pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs (earned) on two hits.

Brian Shackelford, Todd Coffey, and Kent Mercker each put in hitless relief appearances. They worked two-thirds, one and one-third, and one-third of an inning respectively. Coffey's ERA is 0.49; Shackelford's is 0.00.

David Weathers made it terrifying in the ninth, giving up a run on three hits and a walk to get the save. It took a ball smoked directly at Scott Hatteberg for a 3U double-play to end the inning and the game.

Quinton McCracken had a heck of a game today, going 2-for-4 with a walk and contributing a couple great plays in center field. Felipe Lopez had not such a great day, being caught stealing in the first inning for the first time in 2006 and contributing two throwing errors.

Adam Dunn went 2-for-4 with a walk to bring in five of the Reds' nine runs. After the game, Dunn had some not-so-nice things to say about the quality of the team's play during the road-trip. Hopefully he also has a plan for leading the turn-around.

In fact, Dunn came through with a clutch, bases-loaded double to bring in three runs, and a home run in the third to bring in the other two. Scott Hatteberg, Austin Kearns, and Edwin Encarnación also hit home runs.

The win brings the Reds' record to 21-11, a game up on the Cardinals in first place of the NLC. They have today off and host the Washington Nationals on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. Brandon Claussen takes on Tony Armas.