Cardinals 4, Reds 3

Jerry Narron gave us this stat on after the game: Aaron Miles had walked one time in 70 at-bats, hitting left-handed. Jared Burton walked him on four pitches.

Miles, of course, came around to the score the winning run in the ninth. The Reds are reeling again -- three losses in a row, four of five.

This game should have never come down to the ninth. The Reds left 15 on base and were 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Burton's got great stuff. But he clearly doesn't trusted it, thus the seven walks in 8 2/3 innings.

Narron seems to really be in the these-are-players-I've-got-so-I'm-going-use-them mode. He used Mike Stanton in the seventh and Gary Majewski for the eighth. That worked out. Burton didn't. Burton's a Rule 5 guy, meaning the Reds have to keep him on the roster or risk losing him. If you're playing for this year, you can't afford to keep him on the roster.

But the Reds are 11 1/2 games out now, so it's looking more and more like the future is not now.

And, no, I don't know why Marcus McBeth hasn't gotten into a game. Before the game, Narron wanted to use McBeth with a lead. The Reds never got one. He did warm up in the ninth, however.