. >> johnny: willie harris leading off, anderson hernandez in the number 1 hole, and francisco cordero comes out of that reds bullpen. 25 innings pitched, 21 hits allowed, four earned runs, struck out 23 and only walked eight batters.  among national league  in saves. hasn't given up a run in his last 8 appearses. this cincinnati bullpen is tough. >> rob: very tough. as i said before, fourth in earned run average in the major leagues as far as the bullpen goes. they have a lead, tough to get it back from 'em. but only a difference right here, a couple of home runs, string together a few hits, maybe a walk or something, and got to send it to extra innings. >> johnny: willie harris popped out swinging, popped to second grounded out to second. he is 0-3, leads off the bottom of the ninth. takes a strike call.  francisco cordero first  save was july 21st of '08 against san diego. his last blown save was that, a year ago.    another one of these guys  have been around a l

nick masset following aaron harang and arthur rhodes and francisco cordero to the mound. the bullpen for the reds 4-18. that's the 11th inning in the books. we're still tied at 2. we'll come back with more. johnny holiday and rob dibble on masn.

. >> johnny: likes to pitch inside and francisco cordero goes to work on the cincinnati pen. >> rob: contract nearly $50 million to bring him over here. he has done a great job for the nconati reds closing out ball games. >> johnny: ground it down to hernandez on first and it is one down. in the top of the ninth.  hernandez on  nick jo. and with one away mike mcdougall retires the first batter he faces a shot up the middle, a base hit. chris dickerson on with one out here in the ninth. for robob running >> rob: the redsare going to be doing stuff in the next few years that are reminiscent of the st. louis cardinals. [ inaudible ] ... .. get in the swing of things. >> johnny: could be a double play ball, hernandez to guzman, no throw to first base, dickerson came in flying to break up the double play and there is twdown. don't for get,heaving the valley legal stars. come out

nationals don't get something going soon, they will be facing david weathers, arthur rhodes and francisco cordero here at the end of the ballgame. one of the best bullpens around. >> johnny: line-drive to left field. nieves got a base hit. the nats catcher moves willingham to second. nieves is now 1-2 for the afternoon. >> rob: wil nieves right here, johnny, very simple approach. i'm just going to try to make contact and put it in play. he got a nice base hit but he has done a fabulous job. >> johnny: that is only the nationals' 4th base hit in this game. willingham has two and cristian guzman got one back in the third and nieves cleths hit number -- collects hit number four. willie harris will pinch hit for john lannan. wait a minute, now. nick johnson heading up to the plate. nick is going to step in. when you talk about a guy that is overdue, i think johnson is overdue. johnson went up to the plate and micah owings is finished for the afternoon. dusty baker with a call to the cincinnati bullpen. nationals threatening with runners at first and second. we will be back in just a moment. 2-0 cinci

francisco, kind of the same scenario we saw last night. >> rob: guzman touched up rhodes for the second run allowed this year. corderoen lights out all year 15-15. you have to manufacture a run here any way you can if you're elijah dukes and leading off this inning. >> johnny: cordero comes out of the bullpen, has not given up a run in his last 12 appearances. he posted a 0.250 era. the right hander delivers. dukes takes the ball. josh willingham next on deck. then it would come ronny belliard. 2-0 bottom of the 9th. nationals 3-6 against the nl central. the reds under .500. 5-7 against the national league east. that's why they play nine. you don't stop there. >> rob: absolutely. they're playing it. it's not really coming down anymore. >> johnny: last save for francisco came last night. right behind the nationals dugout, cincinnati one error. josh willingham misplayed a ball in right field. got to give him a break there. it was his first time ever in that right field area. >> rob: there's a lead off walk. very nice. that's using the old melon. at the plate right now. you've got to find a way to get willingham in howe