Mark Sheldon of Reds.com has posted a story with the headline Notes: Majewski seeks redemption, which strikes me as mightily amusing for some reason. Probably because, in my imagination, Gary Majewski isn't so much an unlucky guy who got hurt at just the wrong time as an evil imp diguised as a man, a minion of Bowden, waiting to put his mischief to ill use.

That might be a little unreasonable of me.

Nevertheless, I hear you can get 10¢ for soda cans in Michigan. If redeeming himself doesn't work out, he could always redeem the teams' Pepsi cans for a few bucks.

If you're interested in checking out a baseball podcast that features yours truly, is longer than ten minutes, and was recorded after consumption of zero beers then allow me to recommend the Big League Baseball Report, also featured on The View from the Bleachers.

I was lucky enough to be a guest on the program. We discuss the teams contending for play-off berths, the ups and downs of being a blogger, and, of course, the Reds. I was a little halting at first, but I think we got into a groove by the end.

Joe asks me to remind you that, if you like what you hear, you can subscribe to the Big League Baseball Report through iTunes.

Dude, did you see Kyle Lohse strut his way home when Scott Hatteberg hit that home run? And now he's being all demonstrative with his irritation over a called ball.

This guy is a dramatic change of pace. So long as he doesn't go all Ryan Wagner on us, I can get behind it.

The Reds put together a bona fide winning streak today when they beat the Astros 3-4.

Bronson Arroyo was solid in his first failed attempt for win #11, giving up two solo shots on five hits and two walks through six innings. Rheal Cormier gave up the other solo shot in the seventh.

Ryan Franklin, of all people, got the win with his hitless performance in the eighth inning, and Scott Schoeneweis got the save with a similarly hitless performance in the ninth.

Rich Aurilia was featured in the pre-game programming talking about putting together the pieces of a winning team, how he was pleased so long as he was in the line-up, and how Edwin Encarnación and Scott Hatteberg are having such good seasons. He didn't mention his own good season, but it was apparent tonight as he went 4-for-4 with three RBI on the power of a three-run homer in the eighth to tie up the game. He knocked in Encarnación and Adam Dunn.

You know, this discussion reminds me of a time when Dunn was the first baseman for the Reds. Aren't you glad that's not the case anymore?

Royce Clayton brought in the winning run. On the Fox Sports game wrap, Jim Day mentioned how Clayton is trying to win over the fans in Cincinnati, and I can understand that is an uphill battle. He was acquired in an ill-begotten trade, he was proclaimed the everyday shortstop sight unseen, and the management totally tried to blow smoke up our asses about him as they justified those decisions. But not a one of those things is his fault, and it's not really appropriate to direct our outrage at Clayton himself.

It's not you, Royce, not really. You're just an unfortunate symbol of everything that's gone wrong with the management of this team this season. Keep on smacking in winning runs; we'll learn to see past it.

The win brings the Reds' record to 65-60 and their winning streak to three. They picked up a half game on the Cardinals, who were off today, to sit two games out of first place. They continue tomorrow with Kyle Lohse taking on Jason Hirsh at 7:10 p.m.

Time out to report a few new personnel moves:

1. Chris Michalak is on bereavement leave following the passing of his maternal grandmother on Sunday and will be away for at least three days (still expected to start Wednesday vs. Houston).

2. To fill Hopper's roster slot, IF/OF Norris Hopper, the International League batting leader with .349 (who made his major league debut with a pinch-single against the Pirates yesterday) was called up from Louisville.

3. To make room on the 40-man for Hopper, Mike Burns was DFA'ed.

4. Eddie Guardado has been placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday.

5. Matt Belisle was activated from the DL. He did not allow a run in six rehab appearances for the Bats.

OK, I think that's all of them.

HMZ