CHICAGO -- Dusty Baker was missing when the Cincinnati Reds became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot. Josh Morgan Jersey. The main man in the dugout was sidelined Thursday for a second straight game after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. "Obviously we won the last two games for him. We have him in our thoughts, but we got good news on his update," reliever Sean Marshall said after a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. "Hopefully hell be back with us tomorrow and when it really matters, when we clinch (the division). Hopefully we get to celebrate this weekend with him," he said. Ace Johnny Cueto and the NL Central leaders ensured themselves of at least a wild-card spot. Cincinnati cut its magic number to two for winning the division for the second time in three years. The Reds said Baker would remain in a Chicago hospital for an additional day so doctors could monitor his progress. The manager left Wrigley Field before Wednesday nights game and underwent another test Thursday. Baker is expected to return to Cincinnati on Friday. Bench coach Chris Speier ran the team for a second straight game. "He looked good. Very good. Hell be there tomorrow," said general manager Walt Jocketty, who visited Baker on Thursday morning. Jocketty said he didnt know if Baker would be able to manage when the Reds open a series at home against the Dodgers. ""Chris Speier did an excellent job, but I think hes (Dusty) missed and were looking forward to having him back, and more importantly, were hoping for the best with his health," star first baseman Joey Votto said. "I know hes excited and happy, just wish that he was here to partake in it, but hell be back soon," Speier said. Cueto (18-9) pitched six shutout innings as the Red completed a three-game sweep. The Reds broke a scoreless tie by getting five straight singles off reliever Manuel Corpas (0-2) in the seventh during a five-run rally capped by Henry Rodriguezs two-run double. Chicago starter Jason Berken allowed just two hits in six innings against a lineup missing most of the Reds regulars. "I was able to get a couple of jams, great defence behind me, stayed on the same page the whole game," Berken said. Cueto gave up five hits with four walks and broke a three-game losing streak. "I dont think that was the best stuff hes ever had. You can tell he might be getting a little tired at the end of the year or whatever, but Ive seen him with a lot better stuff," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said. The Cubs scored in the seventh on Anthony Rizzos RBI single and in the eighth on Welington Castillos fifth homer again. Rizzo had an RBI grounder in the ninth against Alfredo Simon, who pitched the final 1 1-3 innings for his first save in as many chances. The Reds secured their second playoff appearance in three years despite having the back of their bullpen wiped out by injuries during spring training and losing their best hitter -- 2010 National League MVP Votto -- for nearly two months. Baker did some of his best managing to pull them through. His first challenge was cobbling together a bullpen after closer Ryan Madson tore an elbow ligament in spring training, ending his season. Setup men Nick Masset and Bill Bray also got hurt before the season opened. Baker eased Aroldis Chapman into the closers role, and the hard-throwing left-hander set a franchise record with 27 consecutive saves. Baker also had to juggle his batting order and lineup after Votto tore knee cartilage and was sidelined on July 16. The Reds went on their best tear of the season without their top hitter, going 32-16 and taking control of the NL Central. There was some good fortune, too. All five starters have made it through the season without injury, a franchise record. The Reds had to use a sixth starter only because of a doubleheader. By the time September started, the Reds were firmly in control and counting down the days until theyd clinch. "This is the first step," Jocketty said. ""Weve played very successful baseball this year, and weve competed with the best teams at a very high level," Votto added. "Weve done a lot of winning this year, but I think anything but setting the World Series as our standard, I think anything less would be selling ourselves short. ... Thats our goal." NOTES: Cuetos two strikeouts gave him a career-best 159. ... Reds 2B Rodriguez and CF Denis Phipps made their first career starts and SS Didi Gregorius started for just the fourth time. ... The Cubs stay home to play the wild card-contending Cardinals with Chris Carpenter (0-0) set to make his season debut against Chris Volstad (3-10). ... The Reds will start Bronson Arroyo (12-8) at home against the Dodgers Joe Blanton (9-13) on Friday night. ... Berken, picked up on waivers from Baltimore earlier this month, struck out four batters in one inning -- the fifth Cubs pitcher to ever do that -- when Ryan Hanigan reached on a third strike wild pitch in the second. Art Monk Jersey. -- Randy Moss found his way back to familiar turf, celebrating a touchdown at Lambeau Field in his new uniform. Darrell Green Jersey. While that means the Canadians will be able to maximize the talents of hard-serving Milos Raonic, team captain Martin Laurendeau doesnt think theres a surface out there that can slow down the powerful Spanish. http://www.shopredskinsgear.us/joe-theismann-redskins-jersey/. Votto, from Toronto, hadnt played since July 15 because of damaged cartilage in the knee that required two operations. He had a rehab stint in Class A Dayton and Triple-A Louisville last week. Fred Davis Jersey. -- Andrea Bargnani scored 21 points, Kyle Lowry added 18 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-106 on Friday night in the final preseason game for both teams. Evan Royster Jersey. Alexi Casilla was inserted into the lineup at second base, and Jamey Carroll moved to third for Fridays game. Plouffe hasnt played since he hurt the thumb during a July 20 game against Kansas City. Danny Valencia, who was replaced by Plouffe at third base early in the season, is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.TSN and Kraft Canada are hurrying hard to northern New Brunswick, as the city of Bathurst has been named the sixth winning community in this years Kraft Celebration Tour. As part of the Kraft Celebration Tour, Bathurst will host a special edition of SportsCentre featuring anchors Jay Onrait and Dan OToole when they broadcast live from the New Brunswick community on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6pm et/3pm pt on TSN. Bathurst also receives $25,000 from Kraft Canada to put towards improvements to the Bathurst Curling Club, which needs an overhaul of the facilitys ice plant and lighting system. Known for its popular beaches, stunning landscape and famous salmon rivers, the city of Bathurst is located on the shores of the Bay of Chaleur and boasts a population of 13,000. For more than 100 years, curling has remained an important part of the citys athletic history, and the Bathurst Curling Club has hosted numerous high-profile events since it first opened its doors in 1909. Bathurst joins Creston, B.C., Clarenville, NL, Cochrane, AB, Pugwash, NS, and Porcupine Plain, SK, as one of the 10 winning communities in the Kraft Celebration Tour. Bathurst was named to the tour after winning a national, head-to-head online vote over Sussex, NB. Bathurst brought home the victory with 291,735 votes, while Sussex amassed a total of 225,231 votes in support of its nomination. Canadians can decide the other wwinning communities for the Kraft Celebration Tour. Brian Orakpo Jersey One pair of communities is featured each weekday through July 20, and Canadians can visit KraftCelebrationTour.ca or Tourneedecelebrationkraft.ca to vote for their favourite communities. Voting is unlimited and runs from Noon et/9am pt each day for a 24-hour period. During the voting period, SportsCentre on TSN and Sports 30 on RDS profile each match-up with a look at the duelling communities and their proposed recreation facility improvement projects. Results of each vote will be announced the following weekday on SportsCentre and Sports 30. The other communities selected as finalists for the Kraft Celebration Tour, along with their match-ups and scheduled voting dates, are as follows:• Tuesday, July 17 – Hamiota, MB vs. Manitou, MB• Wednesday, July 18 – Chicoutimi, QC vs. Sainte-Adèle, QC• Thursday, July 19 – Kakabeka Falls, ON vs. New Liskeard, ON• Friday, July 20 – Trenton, ON vs. Lindsay, ON In addition to voting, fans can keep up with the Kraft Celebration Tour on social media by visiting and liking the Kraft Celebration Tour Fan Page on Facebook, and by following and interacting with the tours personalities on Twitter. Official Twitter hashtags for the Kraft Celebration Tour include #kraftcelebrationtour and #tourneedecelebrationkraft. ' ' '