Mike Leake's arrest for shoplifting certainly has not affected him on the field.
Leake went seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits in the Reds' 3-2 loss to Milwaukee Tuesday. He walked none and struck out six. He threw 98 pitches, 60 for strikes.
"That's the best game Leake has pitched this year," manager Dusty Baker said.
Leake has gone seven innings in each of his two starts since his arrest on shoplifting charges. Over the 14 innings, he's allowed five runs, struck out 12 and walked two.
"He's pinpointing that fastball,' Baker said. "He's throw it in with change-ups and breaking balls. He's dotting that low and away that nobody likes to hit. He's not missing."
The key for Leake, who is not overpowering, is being aggressive.
"I'm just pounding the zone and attacking them," Leake said. "Not showing I'm there to lose, that I'm there to win,"
NOTES, QUOTES
--C Ryan Hanigan has not thrown out any would-be base stealers this year. He's allowed 12 steals. "If you give this guy a chance, he'll throw you out," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "It's the old adage: You don't steal on the catcher, you steal on the pitcher."
Hanigan agrees: "It's about getting opportunity. The first six guys, five out of the six, I probably didn't have a chance. This (is) something I pay close attention to. It helps the team, helps situations in the games. We haven't been doing a good job keeping guys close."
Hanigan threw out 29 percent last year and 39 percent in 2009.
--OF Fred Lewis (strained right oblique) was moved from rehabbing at Double-A Carolina to Triple-A Louisville. There's still no timetable on his return. "It depend on how he plays," Baker said. "He didn't have that good of a spring. But we know he's better than that." Lewis hit .261 with three doubles and one RBI in seven games with Carolina.
--RHP Johnny Cueto (shoulder inflammation) made his third rehab start Tuesday night. He went 4 2/3 shutout innings for Triple-A Louisville. He allowed three hits. He walked none and struck out three. He threw 83 pitches, 55 for strikes.
--RHP Logan Ondrusek, who had only given up one earned run all year, gave up a home run to Rickie Weeks. "It was a cutter that got a little more of the plate than I wanted," Ondrusek said.
--1B Joey Votto walked twice Tuesday to extend his streak of reaching base to 24 games. He's 10 shy of the club record for the start of the season, set by Dave Collins in 1981. Votto has walked seven times in the last five games.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- RBI 2B Brandon Phillips has in two games since moving into the cleanup spot.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was a little higher than I wanted it. It was supposed to be a cutter down and away. It was probably outer half, up a little bit. He put a good swing on it. That's what he does. He's got one before and he got me again tonight." -- Logan Ondrusek, on the pitch Rickie Weeks hit for a home run in the Reds' 3-2 loss Tuesday.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--OF Fred Lewis (strained right side) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Carolina on April 14, and he moved his rehab to Class AAA Louisville in late April. There was still no timetable for his return.
--RHP Johnny Cueto (right shoulder impingement) had to leave his March 11 start after two innings, then had to leave after one inning March 19. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He made rehab starts for Class AAA Louisville on April 16, April 21 and April 26. He might return to the Reds in early May.
--3B Scott Rolen (sore left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 21.
--INF Juan Francisco (strained left calf) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 17.
--RHP Homer Bailey (sore right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 24. He made rehab starts for Class AAA Louisville on April 17 and April 24, and he will pitch for Louisville again April 30 before possibly being activated.
--RHP Jose Arredondo (Tommy John surgery in February 2010) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Carolina on April 11, and he is expected to stay the full 30 days.
--RHP Jared Burton (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29. He suffered a setback in early April, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 18. He underwent arthroscopic surgery April 22, and the timetable for his return was unknown.
