NL Central round-up

I didn't get to watch or hear much of last night's game since I was busy consoling little Rowdietta, who repaid my kindness by urinating all over my lap while I rocked her in the Dutailier. I keep telling her that if she must pee on me, she should pee on my hands, but she was falling asleep at the time so I had to let it slide.

Since I didn't see much except that Vogelsong threw some more BP, I'll make notes as I do my own three-minute roundup and share them for your edification.

Adam Dunn went off as the best of the NL Central beat the best of the NL Least. The Reds are ten games over .500. Catcher Larue went 1-for-3 with a promising walk to lift his average to .192. Aaron Harang went five innings, gave up ten hits, but didn't allow any walks. Say what you want about the Reds pitching staff, but you can't deny that they have been super-stingy with the free passes. And guys like Jimenez, Griffey, and Dunn have been taking them in big bunches from the other team.

Houston won at Wrigley after the clock struck midnight for Glendon Rusch. He was OK but he gave up two homers. No pitcher can expect to win after giving up two homers in one start. Josh Fogg is the exception that proves the rule. One of those homers was hit by Jeff Bagwell, so maybe he's waking up from his slump. Now would be a good time for him to do that. Kyle Farnsworth was the hard-luck loser as he was charged with two unearned runs off an error by Todd Walker. Only one game separates these two teams right now so all Pirates fans are rooting for grueling extra-inning games and a split in the series.

Albert Pujols went 5-for-5 and Ryan Vogelsong started and that's all that needs to be said about this game. The Bucs are two games under .500 and six games out.

The Brewers are on the west coast representin' the mighty NL Central against the NL We(ak)st. Doug Davis continued his roll with six shutout innings. Adrian Beltre continues his free-fall at the plate. This guy runs hot or cold and nothing in between. He graduated from the same school of hitting as Reggie Sanders and Paul Konerko. Jenkins had a double so maybe his power is returning. Scott Podsednik was the speedy hero for the Brewer team. The win puts the Brewers two games ahead of the Pirates.

Today, the Cubs and Astros continue their battle-to-the-mutual-deaths as Roger Clemens and Matt Clement neutralize one another. Chris Carpenter and Kip Wells face each other in a battle of lesser aces here at PNC. Cory Lidle leads the Reds against Mongo Willis in Florida, and Ben Hendrickson (who?) faces "better than Adam Dunn" Edwin Jackson in Los Angeles.