The Reds were back to their losing ways on Tuesday with a 2-9 thrashing at the hands of the Mets.

Elizardo Ramirez took the mound for six innings and put in a weak performance by his standards. Four runs (earned) on six hits and a walk. It doesn't really matter, though, because he could have put up zeros in all categories and still left the game with just a one-run lead. Which he knocked in himself in the fifth inning.

David Weathers continued the tragic legacy that is the Cincinnati bullpen by allowing four runs (earned) on three hits and two walks over the course of one-third plus innings. Kent Mercker managed to hold the Mets hitless for the next two outs, an accomplishment worthy of celebration.

Todd Coffey gave up a run in the ninth (earned) on two hits. In fact, it would have been more than that if Jose Valentín hadn't tried to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run and got himself thrown out at the plate. Imagine the Latin Love Machine's brother trying for an inside-the-parker. Just goes to show the stupid things you'll do when you're up by six and the end of the game nowhere in sight.

The only non-pitcher to collect an RBI for the Reds was the Latin Love Machine proper, Javier Valentín. With no outs in the seventh, Austin Kearns singled, Scott Hatteberg walked, and Brandon Phillips singled to load the bases. Valentín plated Kearns with a sacrifice fly. Rich Aurilia then came up and, in probably the single most heartbreaking moment of the game, grounded into a double play.

Ryan Freel, Kearns, and Phillips continue not actually dragging the team down. Freel went 3-for-4. Kearns went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Phillips went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Six Reds went 0-fer.

The loss brings the Reds' record to 38-33. Tonight at 7:10 p.m. they try to take the rubber match. Joe Mays will take the start of Brandon Claussen, who is on the DL. Of course, Mays would have taken his start anyway. He faces Alay Soler.

The Reds took a brief reprieve from all the losing on Monday with a victory over the Mets 4-2.

Bronson Arroyo took the mound and spared us the bullpen by pitching a complete game. He gave up two runs (earned) on seven hits and a walk.

The team spark plugs were firing. Ryan Freel didn't take part in any scoring but did go 3-for-5 with a stolen base. Brandon Phillips went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.

Only one of the Reds' runs came on a home run: a solo shot by Ken Griffey, Jr. in the sixth. The home run puts his and his father's combined homer total to 700, which is nice. He went 1-for-5 on the night with two strike outs.

Their first run, in the second inning, scored when Austin Kearns singled, stole second two batters later, and came in on David Ross's base hit to left field.

With one out in the eighth, Adam Dunn and Kearns each singled. Scott Hatteberg was hit by a pitch to load up the bases, setting up Phillips to plate two with a double to right. Ross struck out and Arroyo flied out to end the inning.

The win brought the Reds' record to 38-32. They would continue the series with the Mets on Tuesday, sending Elizardo Ramirez up against Paul Lo Duca.