When they're good, they're . . .

The Reds have become quite adept at winning the close ones.

They have earned 15 of their 29 wins in their final at-bat, including seven walkoff hits.

They are 13-6 in one-run games and 7-2 in extra-inning games.

Despite being only two games under .500 entering Saturday at 29-31, they had been outscored by a whopping 372-293.

In their victories, the Reds have outscored their opponents by an average of 2.4 runs - 6.6-4.2.

In their losses, the Reds have been outscored by an average of 4.7 runs - 8.1-3.4.

No upstarts

Reds starters entered Saturday 1-10 with a 7.19 ERA in their past 20 games (101.1 innings, 81 earned runs) and went 17 straight games without recording a victory.

Somehow, the Reds managed to go 8-12 in that stretch.

They are coming

The Yankees series helped the Reds boost their season attendance to 919,346, an average of 28,730 through Friday.

That's an increase of 6,869 per game from last season.

Remember him?

The Reds, who have scrambled to cover second base and shortstop this season with Brandon Larson's failure and Barry Larkin's injuries, sure could use Todd Walker.

Walker, who hit .299 with 42 doubles, 11 homers and 64 RBI last season, was traded to Boston on Dec. 12 for two minor-leaguers, pitcher Josh Thigpen and third baseman Tony Blanco, both in Single-A.

Walker entered Saturday among the AL leaders with a .320 average, four homers, 31 RBI with a .365 on-base percentage. His 96 total bases are third on the Red Sox.

By the numbers (Entering Saturday)

222: Consecutive games played by Aaron Boone, the most by any Reds player since Dave Parker played in 267 straight from 1985-87.

62: Errors by the Reds, still worst in baseball.

6.66: Season ERA for Reds starters.

4.36: Season ERA for Reds relievers.

11: Season victories for Reds starters.

18: Season victories for Reds relievers.

14: Saves by the Reds.

24: Save opportunities (58 percent).

The week ahead

Monday: OFF

Tuesday: at Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday: at Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday: at Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m.

Friday: vs. Philadelphia, 7:10 p.m.

Saturday: vs. Philadelphia, 7:10 p.m.

Sunday: vs. Philadelphia, 1:15 p.m.

The skinny: With any luck, new Devil Rays skipper Lou Piniella will give us a good tirade for old times' sake.

The Phillies, despite the offseason acquisitions of Jim Thome and Kevin Millwood, are in third place in the NL East.