MILWAUKEE — Jason LaRue was in the Reds' lineup at catcher Wednesday for the 10th time in the last 11 games. It doesn't sound like that's about to change.

        Eddie Taubensee is eligible to come off the disabled list at any time. But the Reds don't know when Taubensee will be ready, and manager Jack McKeon won't say whether Taubensee will resume his role as the top catcher when he returns.

        If the Reds' pennant hopes fade further, it's an easy decision: You play LaRue, considered the catcher of the future.

        But you also could argue the Reds are better right now with LaRue catching. In his nine starts, entering Wednesday, the Reds were 5-4 with a 2.68 ERA.

        McKeon would not say that was all LaRue.

        “The pitchers did that last year with Tauby catching,” McKeon said. “But the kid's done a tremendous job. They haven't been able to run on him.”

        LaRue nearly made the Reds out of spring training. But he was sent to Triple-A Louisville after the team signed Benito Santiago late in spring training.

        Santiago started well but faded. He's hitting .240.

        LaRue wasn't called up from Louisville until Aug.1.

        “He's done a great job behind the plate,” said general manager Jim Bowden, “and handling the pitching staff. Our won-loss record and ERA reflects that. He's made the most of his opportunity. His value keeps going up.”

        LaRue was 0-for-3 Wednesday and is hitting .156 with two home runs three RBI in 32 at-bats.

        “Hitting is always secondary to me,” LaRue said. “I want to catch and call the best game I can. I think of myself as a catcher first.”

        That's not to say LaRue doesn't think he'll hit in the bigs.

        “I'm getting more and more confident at the plate,” he said.

        LaRue came into this year with a career .300 batting average in the minors. He won the Southern League batting title with a .365 average in 1998.

        TAUBENSEE UPDATE: Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek had said Taubensee, who is on the DL with a bulging disk, might return Friday when the Reds open a series at Cinergy with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

        That doesn't look like it will happen now.

        “We're not sure when Eddie is coming back,” Bowden said.

        Taubensee is not traveling with the team. He received a second epidural injection Monday. He could require another one.

        “You can take up to three,” trainer Greg Lynn said. “From what I understand, he's doing well in therapy.”

        OSSIE UPDATE: Osvaldo Fernandez pitched a rehab start for Louisville Monday night. Fernandez, on the DL with elbow problems, went six innings, allowing eight hits and one run. He struck out eight and walked none.

        “He's pitching well,” Bowden said. “If he can help us by bringing him back, we will.”

        The Reds do not have to recall Fernandez for 30 days.

        WOHLERS WILD: Mark Wohlers walked two of the three batters he faced Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Wohlers (1-2) took the loss. That gave him 10 walks in 11 2/3 innings. But the Reds aren't overly concerned.

        “He was just high in the strike zone,” pitching coach Don Gullett said.

        Wohlers spent time last year on the DL with an anxiety disorder that kept him from throwing strikes. But Gullett thinks Wohlers just needs innings.

        “We've got to put him out there in those situations and let him get sharp,” Gullett said.

        UP NEXT: The Reds are off today. They open a three-game series with the Pirates Friday at Cinergy Field.

Brewers 5, Reds 1 Box, runs LaRue may keep catching spot Second St. opening just in time Owner sues to get back Rose photo

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