Don’t look now, but the Reds are winning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter much. Riding two straight wins over the Dodgers, the Reds went to San Diego and swept the Padres to extend their winning streak to five. I think this is their longest streak of the season (I’m too lazy to look it up).

Luke Hudson started things off for the Reds on Friday. Five so-so innings of work and he walked away with a win. Adam Dunn continued his tear as he hit two homers and a double. That last homer was his thirtieth of the season and he’s right on pace to hit the same number of homers he did last year (46).

Yesterday was even better. Aaron Harang threw a really nice game to win his seventh game (leads the team, sigh). His ERA is an outlier on the team at 3.81. Austin Kearns drove in two and Valentine drove in three.

Today, the Reds finished things up with another squashing. This time it was Eric Milton. In what was by far his best start of the season, he went seven innings and gave up no runs on four hits. No walks either. He struck out six and he walked away with his fifth win of the season. Bert Blyleven’s record might be safe yet. Adam Dunn hit his thirty first homer and it was a grand slam. Joe Randa went 0 for 11 in the series.

Other then the Randa trade last week, the Reds stood pat at the trading deadline. The Padres now join all of the other teams in the AL West below .500. They’re now tied with the D-Rays for first place, despite being three games below .500. If the Reds played in the NL West, they’d be four games out of first place (tied with the Dodgers).

And the Reds are no longer the second worst team in the National League. They’re now tied for the fourth worst, so we’re moving on up.

Braves are on deck. Another first place team will fall before us. Day off tomorrow, so enjoy it.

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