Asked about the art of being a closer, Graves reached in his locker and held up a T-shirt that read, “Lucky.”

        “Luck plays a huge part,” Graves said.

        What he means: Graves said he had good stuff Thursday night, but the Brewers squeaked a couple of ground balls through the infield and beat him in the ninth inning. Graves said he was flat Friday, but he closed out a narrow victory thanks in part to a Milwaukee baserunning blunder.

        Graves has saved 26 games but blown six saves. He said he has learned not to take the game home with him.

        “It's always tough when you blow a save,” Graves said. “But it's a part of the game you have to deal with. Before I leave the clubhouse, (other relievers) and I talk about it. If you go to a psychiatrist, you're supposed to talk about it and deal with it.”

        DOWN ON THE FARM: Third baseman Brandon Larson had a home run, a double and four RBI Friday night in Triple-A Louisville's 6-1 victory at Indianapolis. It was Larson's fourth homer in five games and 24th of the season, tying him for the International League lead.

        Outfielder Ruben Mateo was placed on the DL with a broken finger. He is batting .317 with nine home runs and 21 RBI and has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games, including a current 12-game hitting streak.

        UP NEXT: Reds right-hander Joey Hamilton (3-5, 4.98 ERA) will oppose right-hander Ruben Quevado (4-6, 4.26) today.

        Hamilton hasn't won since May 29 at Florida. Up to and including the May 6 game against Milwaukee in which he suffered a partial tear of his left hamstring, Hamilton was 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA. Since then, he is 1-4 with a 6.86 ERA.

Reds 6, Brewers 4 Reds box, runs Reds Q&A The pride of Newberry DAUGHERTY: A strike for 'rights' is wrong Choosing stars no highlight for Brenly Cloudy forecast for Bud Bowl A fast but tenuous start Midseason report Cinergy Moment No. 20 - July 1, 1973 Down on the farm Graves 'Lucky' Griffey's return may come in 2 weeks Reds chatter Relief tempers envy of Yankees' Weaver trade Memories of an American original No funeral services for Kid Bats 3, Clippers 1 John Fay's power rankings AL roundup NL roundup Notes from Saturday's games

Caught between a rock and a hard place
Five Questions with Brad Friedel
Met's anyone's tournament
Nalbandian's Centre Court debut will be final vs. Hewitt
Serena shows no mercy in victory over Venus
Da Matta fights off Tracy challenge to win pole
Green gets ride with Gary Keller Racing
Jarrett maneuver causes 14-car wreck
Montoya takes pole for British GP
Rookie Scheckter takes pole for Ameristar 200
Waltrip a winner - and happy this time
Allenby pulls away
Sorenstam takes two-stroke lead into the final round
E Dubai wins Suburban Handicap
Mr. John wins $400,000 Cornhusker
Armstrong takes prologue to open Tour de France
Mighty Ducks acquire Sykora
Police say Iverson being investigated
Coming up this week
GROESCHEN: Prep Insider

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