Bruce sits against Astros’ Rodriguez

knows his history against Houston lefthander Bruce is 2-for-29 against Rodriguez with 15 strikeouts.

But he also pointed to his most recent history.

“I’m 1-for-3 against Wandy this year,” he said.

Bruce was not in the starting lineup against Rodriguez and the Astros on Saturday night.

“Obviously, I’d rather be in there,” he said. “I’m not the manager. He’s looking out for the best interests of the team. I feel like I can contribute.”

Bruce did not go to Reds manager when he saw the lineup.

“No, I respect him,” he said. “It’s his decision. I’ll be in there at some point.”

Baker said he was reluctant to sit Bruce, despite the numbers. started in right field and started in left.

“It’s the same thing as before,” Baker said. “Wandy’s been tough on us. Heisey and Ludwick have had as much history of success against him as anyone on the team.”

Ludwick went into Saturday 11-for-35 with two RBIs and a .368 on-base percentage vs. Rodriguez. Heisey was 3-for-8 with a home run and a .444 on-base.

“Everybody has somebody they struggle against,” Bruce said. “I look at it as a challenge. I think I’m a different hitter this year.”

struck out the side in the ninth Friday night on 13 pitches — four called strikes, five swinging strikes and four balls. All the swings were complete misses.

“If you think they might catch up to one, you might mix in a slider,” catcher

said. “But nobody came remotely close to catching up with one. I wasn’t going to do them a favor and call a slider.”

Chapman hasn’t given up a hit since May 17. In the 6 ⅔ innings since, he’s faced 21 batters. He’s struck out 11 and walked one.

Chapman’s pitched 27 innings going into Saturday’s game. He’s averaging two hits, three walks and 16 strikeouts per nine innings. Chapman has converted all four save chances with relative ease since moving into the closer’s role.

“He’s settled into whatever role we’ve asked him to do,” Baker said.

Saturday’s game with the Detroit Tigers at Great American Ball Park has already sold out. Standing-room tickets remain.

“The need for young guys is to be a pitcher and not a thrower. But if you’re having good success as a thrower, keep on chucking.” — Baker on Chapman throwing all fastballs Friday.

Andrew Means continues to swing a hot bat for Pensacola (Double-A) since being called up from Bakersfield (High-A) last month.

In his first 16 games with the Blue Wahoos, the 25-year-old Avon Lake native was hitting .351 with two home runs and five RBIs in 37 at-bats.

A right-handed hitting outfielder, Means entered Friday’s doubleheader against the Jacksonville Suns with a fivegame hitting streak, including a 3-for-4 game last Sunday against the Mississippi Braves in which he blasted a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth.

In 11 games with Bakersfield, Means hit .270 with one home run and eight RBIs before being called up to Pensacola.

Bowe on the go: Theo Bowe is another player who has performed better at a higher level.

Since being called up to Bakersfield (High-A) from Dayton (Single-A), Bowe has hit .393 with two home runs and 11 stolen bases in 61 at-bats.

In 86 at-bats with the Dragons, Bowe hit just .186 with no homers and two RBIs.

He entered Friday’s game at San Jose on a five-game hitting streak in which he had gone 9-for-18 (.500) with six stolen bases. Bowe has stolen at least one base in six consecutive games.

Tough-luck Tomko: Louisville (Triple-A) starter Brett Tomko continues to pitch well with nothing to show for it.

Tomko scattered six hits over six innings and allowed just two earned runs Wednesday night, but he took the loss as the Bats fell to Syracuse 2-1.

The loss dropped Tomko’s record to 0-6 this season even the though the 39-year-old right-hander has been one of the team’s top pitchers. In 10 starts, Tomko has posted a 3.12 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 28 walks in 57 ⅔ innings. Opponents are hitting only .251 against him.

He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any game this year, and he hasn’t allowed more than two in eight of his last nine starts.

Notable: Despite some issues with his control (nine walks in 13 innings), Louisville reliever Kanekoa Texeira continues to be the Bats’ most effective pitcher. The 26-year-old righthander has allowed just one earned run all season and owns a 0.81 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .205 against him ... Bakersfield shortstop Billy Hamilton is on pace to break the California League record of 144 stolen bases in a season. Hamilton had 57 swipes in his first 50 games this year, and heading into Friday he had at least one in each of his last nine games, including three Monday... Dayton center fielder Kurtis Muller has been taking his recent demotion out on Midwest League pitching. In his first 10 games since being sent down from Bakersfield, Muller was hitting .475 with four home runs, eight RBIs, two doubles and four stolen bases in just 40 at-bats. He had been hitting only .182 with the Blaze.