On May 18, 2008, Paul Janish made his first Major League start for the Reds, going 3-3 with a walk and turning two double plays in a Reds’ 6-4 interleague win over their Ohio state rival Cleveland Indians.
It was Janish’s third game as a Red, having appeared twice before as a defensive replacement (on May 14 and 16). In his first game as a Red, Janish had driven home the winning run in the 10th inning of a Reds’ 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. He had entered the game in a double switch to start the eighth inning. His first at bat was a flyout out deep into the left centerfield gap, but his second time to the plate produced a line drive down the right field line to score pinch runner Johnny Cueto from second base and give the Reds the victory.
In 2009, according to baseball-reference.com, Janish led the National League both in fielding percentage for shortstops (.991) and in range factor/9 innings at shortstop at 4.89.