First Base Won't Be the Place for Encarnacion ; Reds Go Meekly, 1-0, in Season Finale; Fail to Reach .500 Mark.

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PITTSBURGH -- Juan Castro scanned the lineup card Sunday morning and saw, "Edwin Encarnacion, First base," and said, "I'm going to throw him sliders." Encarnacion? First base? Writers quickly beat a path to Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron to see if this was something for next year and Narron said, "If I had known this was that big a deal, I would have played Castro at first base." In other words, read nothing into this. "What's up with Edwin at first base? Not enough healthy bodies and I'm just trying to get through the last day," said Narron. "One day at first base isn't going to make a difference or tell us anything."

Encarnacion played without mishap or incident, but the Reds lost their final game of the season, 1-0, denying them their first .500 season since 2000. They finished with 19 straight scoreless innings.

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First Base Won't Be the Place for Encarnacion ; Reds Go Meekly, 1-0, in Season Finale; Fail to Reach .500 Mark.

"Not finishing .500 is hurtful, but not as hurtful as not being in the postseason," said ...

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