Dusty Does It Again, Quick Hook Leaves Bailey Hanging

Here's predicting the Reds will lose the rest of the weekend series to the visiting Florida Marlins. That has been the pattern this season: Dusty Baker acts on an ill-advised hunch, a dispiriting loss ensues, spawning a losing streak.

Friday night he once again deprived Homer Bailey of a win, pulling him for a pinch hitter, with one out in the 7th inning and a man on. Homer had allowed just three singles and no runs to that point but Dusty opted to have Laynce Nix pinch hit. He swung at the first pitch and fouled out. Nothing came of the threat other than it removed Homer from the equation.

Nick Massett pitched a perfect 8th, giving way to Francisco Cordero in the 9th, by which time the Reds had a 2-0 lead. Why not let Massett go another inning, considering that Cordero had pitched four days in a row prior to Friday night?

Not Dusty. Cordero is the closer, he'll pitch the ninth. And collaborate with Jared Burton and a Wladimir Balentien error into a four run 9th inning uprising that snapped the Reds 3 game win streak and deprived Bailey of a win, again. With more to follow, I'm predicting.