Janish gets walk-off hit in debut

CINCINNATI -- Paul Janish didn't care that his nose was bloodied or that his ribs were sore. As far as the rookie was concerned, they were badges of honor.

In the second at-bat of his first big league game against the Marlins Wednesday night, Janish delivered the game-winning RBI single for a 7-6 Reds win in 10 innings. Cincinnati has taken three in a row from Florida to guarantee winning the four-game series.

"It's hard to explain," said Janish, who was unexpectedly called up from Triple-A Louisville after shortstop Jeff Keppinger fractured his left kneecap Tuesday night. "I'd like to say it only gets better from here, but this is pretty tough to beat. It was pretty ideal."

With two outs in the Cincinnati 10th, pinch-hitter David Ross and Paul Bako drew back-to-back walks against reliever Renyel Pinto (1-2). Reds manager Dusty Baker sent rookie pitcher Johnny Cueto in to run for Ross from second base.

"I was going to run [Edinson] Volquez but Edwin [Encarnacion] told me, 'Oh no, Cueto's faster,'" Baker said. "I said, 'Just don't get picked off back there at second base.' Then [Pinto] turned around and I said, 'Oh no.'"

Cueto avoided getting picked off but Janish went down, 0-2, after two so-so swings against Pinto. The next pitch was sliced near the foul line in shallow right field, scoring Cueto for the game-ender.

"As soon as it went over the first baseman, I knew it was staying fair," Janish said. "I was pretty much in disbelief to be honest with you. It was a pretty surreal thing to actually happen."

Janish touched first base before he was mobbed by teammates.

"I got crushed," said Janish, who had bloodstains on his uniform pants. "Somebody got me pretty good right in the nose. I actually had a bloody nose. It was well worth it. I caught a couple in the ribs and a swift jab to the nose.

"I'll tell you what, I'd do it again tomorrow if we get the chance."

Janish's debut originally didn't have the makings of a walk-off thriller. He entered at shortstop in the top of the eighth inning in a double switch while the Reds held a 6-0 lead. A six-run Florida ninth inning, which included Francisco Cordero's first blown save, sent the game to extras.

When Janish entered the game after starting shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. shifted to left field, he immediately fielded two quick ground balls for the first two outs. In the bottom of the eighth, Janish flew out to deep left field and received a nice ovation from the 12,756 fans at Great American Ball Park.

The previous night, Janish got no sleep thinking about how his big league debut might turn out. He got more than he bargained for.

"I'd like to say it only gets better from here, but this is pretty tough to beat. It was pretty ideal."

-- Paul Janish

"I was just hoping I'd get into the game tonight and get it out of the way and the nerves out of the way the first day so I wouldn't have to sit on it," he said.

Cincinnati and reliever Mike Lincoln took the 6-0 lead into the top of the ninth. Lincoln, who pitched a 1-2-3 eighth after taking over for starter Bronson Arroyo, couldn't notch an out in the ninth. Lincoln allowed three straight hits, including Luis Gonzalez's RBI double, and loaded the bases when he hit Wes Helms with a pitch.

It forced Baker to use Cordero for a third straight night. Cordero had locked down saves in the other two wins and was working his fourth game in five nights.

"I know Francisco feels terrible," Baker said. "He's not going to blow many of them. I didn't want to go to him that third day in a row but I really didn't have a choice in that situation."

Cordero gave up a two-run single to Matt Treanor. With one out and a 2-2 count, Cody Ross hit a game-tying three-run home run into the left-field seats. It was the first blown save in eight attempts for Cordero. The Reds were the last team in the Majors to blow a save this season.

A very nice scoreless seven-inning performance by Arroyo suddenly resulted in a hard-luck no-decision. Working on three days' rest following his best start of the season for a win in New York, Arroyo gave up five hits, three walks and struck out five.

"That's the way it goes," Arroyo said. "Obviously I was happy with seven zeros. It just got away from us. At some point, [Cordero] wouldn't probably be perfect all year."

Florida wasn't able to take the lead. Jared Burton (2-1) worked a perfect top of the 10th inning for the victory, which enabled Janish to come through.

"At the end of the game, I was saying, 'Janish is going to win this game,'" Baker said. "Sometimes, it's your day. Circumstances maybe couldn't have been prevented because it was his day. I believe in that."