Manager Jerry Narron again made some questionable calls this afternoon in what would turn out to be a 4-2 game to lose the series to the New York Mets.

Bronson Arroyo continued his march to a nine-win season when he put in eight innings of two-run (earned), six hit work. He struck out eight and walked zero.

Two words, my friends: bad karma.

Eddie Guardado worked the ninth and allowed no runs on one hit. Being the one new reliever who has demonstrated that he can definitely get the job done, and being that the pitcher's spot wasn't due up for seven batters, he should have also pitched the tenth.

Instead, Narron sent out Gary Majewski, apparently to give him another chance to win our hearts. In the space of two outs, Majewski gave up two runs (earned) on two hits for the loss. Kent Mercker got the final out.

Majewski has now pitched two innings in three appearances and given up five runs. He sports a lean 22.50 ERA as a Red. And admittedly, that's not great. But you have to admit: it's better than Austin Kearns could have done.

Ryan Freel, finally back from his lingering shoulder injury, knocked in both Reds' runs in the fifth inning, scoring Royce Clayton and Jason LaRue. Freel was 3-for-5 on the night.

Edwin Encarnación finally got a start and went 2-for-2 with a walk! Finally, he got the chance to prove himself and did it with flying colors! And got pinch-hit for in the seventh! By Scott Hatteberg!

Honestly, people, what the hell? Sure, Hattey's been hot, but so has Eddie. There was only one out in the inning, and Brandon Phillips was coming up next. Going into the stretch, general manager Wayne Krivsky noticed that the bullpen was losing the team a lot of games and took drastic measures to fix it. Has he noticed how many games Narron has lost the team this week? Will he take drastic measures? Might I recommend a Kool-Aid colonic?

The loss brings the Reds' record to 50-46. Tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. they open a series with the Brewers, sending The Lizard, Elizardo Ramirez out to face Chris Capuano.