Fun times:

Manager Bryan CINCINNATI — Price’s Great American Ball Park office was more crowded than usual Monday during his daily pregame media briefing, with the Reds and the visiting New York Yankees both in first place. The Reds went into the two-game interleague series riding a season - high five-game winning streak.

To some observers, that seemed like validation for the fourth-year Reds manager’s approach this season, from sticking with slumping youngsters to his unusual deployment of the relief corps — with no designated closer and relievers being used for multiple innings, including in save situations.

“I feel like we’re playing like I thought we would play,” said Price, whose team was in first place this late in the season for the first time since the 2012 squad won the National League Central Division. “We played through the adversity of losing some starting pitching and didn’t use that as an excuse. Now we’re getting some production from our starting pitchers, and that’s helping bring it all together.

“We’ve been in first place and last place and now we’re back in first place,” he said with a smile. “I’d like to be talking about that in September.”

One of the members of the New York media asked Price to describe his team in one word.

“Wow,” Price said. “You needed to send me a text overnight on that one. That’s a tough one. If I had to pick a word, I’d say opportunistic. We take what’s there to take.”

Zack Cozart didn’t find any extra measure of enjoyment in hitting a home run against former teammate Johnny Cueto in Sunday’s 4-0 win over San Francisco.

“It’s always fun to hit one,” the veteran shortstop.

Cozart has been having a lot of fun lately.

With the problems resulting from his devastating knee injury in June 2015 further behind him, he went into Monday’s game tied with teammate Billy Hamilton and Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon for the major league lead with four triples, and he was hitting .351 this season.

Price credited improved “strikezone command” for Cozart’s early season surge. “He’s seeing the ball better and identifying good pitches to hit,” Price said. “I’m sure there’s a physical element that goes with that, too.”

Even though left-hander Brandon Finnegan wasn’t expected to throw until mid-May, he started tossing over the weekend as he tries to come back from a left shoulder strain.

Finnegan throws:

Finnegan has been on the disabled list since April 16.

“He’s a ways away from throwing off a mound,” Price said.

Meanwhile, right-hander Anthony DeSclafani returned to Arizona after spending a couple of days early last week in Cincinnati getting reexamined by team doctors and catching up with his teammates. “He’ll be back here in two-plus weeks to be reevaluated before we decide to start a throwing program,” Price said.

DeSclafani has been out all season with a sprained ligament in his right elbow.

Three-peat:

Billy Hamilton tripled for the third consecutive game Sunday. The last Red to do that was Deion Sanders in 1997, The Associated Press reported.

The Cardinals

Makeup date:

announced that their game with the Reds that was rained out on April 29 at Busch Stadium has been rescheduled for June 29 at 4:15 p.m.

Homestand finale:

Righthander Tim Adleman (1-1), a Staten Island, N.Y., native and Connecticut resident, is Cincinnati’s scheduled starter in today’s 7:10p.m. homestand finale against the Yankees.

Adleman is coming off a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh last Thursday in which he allowed six hits and two runs with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings.

Left-hander C.C. Sabathia (2-1) is scheduled to make his first start against Cincinnati since 2012. the past, as are the Bengals careers of longtime leaders Andrew Whitworth and Domata Peko, who left in free agency.

Green said he knows that means more responsibility is on his shoulders to step into a role as a vocal leader.

“The 2011 class is going to be the leaders around here,” he said, referring to himself, quarterback Andy Dalton and left guard Clint Boling. “I feel like we’ve still got to be more vocal for some of the young guys. I think we’re ready to step up. I feel like we’ll be great leaders.”

Green said he feels the offense as a whole will make more noise with first-round wide receiver John Ross and second-round running back Joe Mixon.

“I’ve played with some fast guys, but not that fast,” Green said of Ross. “That’s a different kind of speed.

“With (Ross’) speed, he’s always going to keep everything honest. That’s really going to help us. For me, it keeps the defense honest. Can’t just lock on me.

“Having him on the field just creates a different dynamic that we didn’t have here the past couple of years with his speed. I feel like we’re definitely getting a lift. We had Marvin ( Jones) and Mo (Sanu) when they were coming into their own and had Tyler Eifert healthy, I feel like our offense was at its best when we all were on the field together. I feel like we’re getting back to that.”

When the subject turned to the controversial pick of Mixon, Green didn’t shy away, just as he said he won’t shy away from offering to help his new teammate.

“I’m a God-fearing guy, and I feel like everybody deserves a second chance,” he said.“Idon’t condone what he’s done. He can’t take that back. I know he would like to. I feel like the Christian man in me, with my faith, that’s the Christian way to do. I’m going to give the guy a chance.

“You don’t look upon somebody, you help them. I feel like bringing him into the locker room with Andy and I being the leaders of the offense will really help him.”