UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, switching channels between innings to watch Ohio State maul Nebraska and the timing was perfect — three times just when the channel was switched the Buckeyes scored a touchdown.

RESILIENCY, THE HALLMARK of the 2012 Cincinnati Reds, was never more evident than it was Saturday night during their 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game One of the National League Division Series.

Starter Johnny Cueto, The Big Bull of the Reds rotation, faced only one hitter. Just one batter.

Cueto felt back spasms when he warmed up, but went to the mound anyway. The first batter, Angel Pagan, called time during the start of Cueto’s delivery and stepped out of the box. Instead of delivering the pitch, Cueto stopped abruptly — which had to put additional strain on his back.

He finished off Pagan with a called strike three, but when he tried to pitch to the second batter, Marco Scutaro, he couldn’t do it — “No mas, no mas.” He walked off the mound.

THE SIMULTANEOUS expulsion of air throughout Cincinnati Reds country could have started a hurricane. Now what? Oh, the misery. Oh, the angst.

Starter Mat Latos was in the dugout begging to go in but manager Dusty Baker opted for relief pitcher Sam LeCure.

And the quick-shuffle by manager Dusty Baker began and the pitching staff came through gloriously.

LeCURE PITCHED 1 2/3 scoreless inning. Then Latos got his chance. He pitched the next four and gave up one run and four hits. Sean Marshall, Jonathan Broxton and a nervous, shaky Aroldis Chapman finished it up.

Now what? Latos was scheduled to pitch Game Three, but won’t be available. Instead, back permitting, the Reds plan to bring Cueto back for Game Three Tuesday night in Great American Ball Park. And that means if there is a Game Five it would belong to Latos — and that isn’t such a bad situation. In face, it’s doggone good.

So, just like that, the Reds hold The Big Stick over San Francisco’s heads. The Reds hoped to win one of the two games in San Francisco. Now, with Bronson Arroyo pitching Sunday night, the Reds have a chance to be up two games to none before they come home, which would force the Giants to sweep all three in Cincinnati — or better put, the Reds would need to win only one of three in Great American Ball Park.

WHAT THE REDS needed most as this series began was to get some hitting from some sources they hadn’t been getting — namely Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce.

Done deal.

Going into the game, Phillips was 10 for 61 (.164 and Bruce was 10 for 71 (.141).

On this night, though, Phillips cracked three hits and drove in three runs, including a two-run home run in the third that gave the Reds a 2-0 lead over Matt Cain, who was 6-0 in his last 10 starts.

Bruce had two hits, including a double and a home run off Cain in the fourth that gave the Reds a 3-0 lead and Cain was gone after five.

MAYBE THAT SHOULDN’T be a big surprise. After the home runs by Phillips and Bruce Cain has given up six home runs in 21 innings against the Reds this season. And Bruce is 8 for 15 against him.

So AT&T Park is a pitcher’s park, unfriendly to hitters? Well, Phillips and Bruce shrunk it to workable size and the Bruce home run to deep right center was headed for Oakland before a chair stopped its flight.

AND IF PITCHING and defense decide games in the postseason, then the Reds are well-armed and well-equipped.

In addition to the superb pitching Saturday, they slapped severe leather on the Giants. Left fielder Ryan Ludwick made two above-and-beyond catches. First baseman Joey Votto snagged a line drive head for a troublesome double and turned it into a double play. Brandon Phillips made a diving stop of a wild throw near the Reds bullpen down the right field line to hold a runner at first base. Drew Stubbs, who had a single ahead of the Phillips home run, cut off a line drive in the outfield and prevented a possible run early in the game.

THE ONLY SAN FRANCISCO run until the ninth was a leadoff home run by National League MVP (it says here) Buster Posey against Latos in the sixth inning.

Jonathan Broxton wiggled out of a problem in the eighth when the Giants put two on with two outs. Broxton jumped ahead of Gregor Blanco 0-and-2, fell behind 3-and-2, then slipped a low and away fastball past Blanco for called strike three.

SO THE REDS clung to a 3-1 lead entering the ninth and created breathing space with two runs. Ryan Hanigan singled and Xavier Paul (what a pickup he has been) blooped a broken bat single to right.

Phillips singled to right for his third RBI and the fifth run scored on a Wild pitch to make it 5-1.

It wasn’t a save situation for Aroldis Chapman and he showed his inexperience and youthfulness during an inning in which he was all over hell’s half acre.

Joaquin Aris started the ninth with single to right and Chapman walked Xavier Nady on four pitches. Dusty Baker, not pitching coach Bryan Price, went to the mound for some stern but encouraging words in Spanish for Chapman.

He retired Angel Pagan on a popup. But he walked Marco Scutaro to fill the bases. A wild pitch permitted a run, but Chapman ended it against Posey, with the fans pleading for a game-tying home run. He struck him out with a high fastball.

So it was high drama on the walkway in front McCovey Cove and it was the Reds walking away with the big smiles and a one-up lead in enemy territory.

When are the Reds' playoff games?