DJ: Road trip enhancing Dusty's contract status

CINCINNATI - Just when everyone sought to deep six Drew Stubbs. And thought that Dusty Baker wasn't worthy of a contract extension, the Reds are the hottest team in the National League. They won for the 14th time in their last 16 games Wednesday night, when former Reds reliever Francisco Cordero, now of Houston, cratered for the second night in a row.

Tuesday night, with the Reds down to fumes, he served up a game winning, two-run homer to Drew Stubbs with one out in the 9th inning. Wednesday night, after Cincinnati's bullpen squandered Homer Bailey's bid for a ninth win, Cordero was victimized once more. Again by Stubbs, who delivered a two-out, two-run double that rallied the Reds past Houston 5-3 for their seventh straight win. Pittsburgh won earlier Wednesday, so the Reds maintain a 2 1/2 game lead in the division.

You have to feel for Cordero, who is in the twilight of his career, but the Reds needed the win more than the moribund Astros who are going nowhere but to the American League next season. Aroldis Chapman came on again to mop up in the 9th, claiming his 19th save of the season, after Logan Ondrusek squandered Bailey's effort, seven innings, four hits, no runs with seven strikeouts.

It means the Reds go into a Thursday off day in Colorado with serious momentum. And Dusty Baker has also regained the leverage he needs in quest for a contract extension. His expires after the season and he's twice pressed his case with team President Bob Castellini. Reclaiming the division lead undoubtedly enhances his standing. Especially considering that most of this prosperity is coming without Joey Votto.

Barring some kind of calamity in Colorado over the weekend, Baker might return from this road trip to find Bob Castellini all the more receptive to his desire for a level of financial security the team's performance warrants.