Brian Reith allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Brian Reith's performance in the Reds' 2-0 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Cardinals eased the dismay they experienced before the game.

        Opening Day starter Pete Harnisch felt discomfort in his right elbow while trying to throw off a bullpen mound, marking a setback in his bid to leave the disabled list.

        But because of Reith, who occupies Harnisch's spot in the starting rotation, the Reds might not suffer from the absence of their ace as much as they feared.

        Reith recorded the stingiest of his three major-league starts, yielding one run in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander spent most of his outing working from the stretch as he coped with 11 baserunners. But the Cardinals mustered just one hit in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position against Reith (0-2), who lowered his ERA to 3.38.

Dmitri Young loses his cap and sunglasses making a tough catch. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Reith's only misfortune is to have joined a Reds team that has spent the entire month of May in an offensive funk. That continued as Cincinnati went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and suffered its second shutout defeat in four days after scoring in a National League-record 208 consecutive games.

        While the Reds (20-29) fell 8 1/2 games behind the first-place Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, who begin a three-game series at Cinergy Field today, they could take comfort in the 23-year-old Reith, who was pitching for Double-A Chattanooga less than three weeks ago.

        “We kind of knew he was a (gutsy) kid and that he wouldn't be overwhelmed by (the major leagues),” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

Fernando Vina steals second as Bill Selby takes the throw. (Yuli Wu photo) | ZOOM |

        Reith stranded five runners in scoring position. He was taken out with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning in favor of left-hander Hector Mercado, who kept the game and Reith's pitching line respectable by retiring Fernando Vina on a fly ball.

        Reith's only display of inexperience occurred after the game, when he neglected to wait for reporters. Others were all too happy to talk about him.

        “That tells you the type of heart he has and what he's all about,” pitching coach Don Gullett said of Reith's effort. “He made some big pitches under a lot of stress. Some of it was his doing. That's part of the game, but that really tells you his character and what he's made of.”

Alex Ochoa is tagged out by first baseman Albert Pujois after hitting one up the first-base line. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Said catcher Jason LaRue, “He spots his fastball really well and he can throw his offspeed stuff for strikes when he's behind in the count. That's what good pitchers do — they keep hitters off-balance.”

        Gullett particularly noticed three of Reith's assets:

        • He wasn't afraid to pitch inside. In fact, he hit Vina, the league's leader in that category with 11, to begin the game. Vina proceeded to score St. Louis' lone run off Reith. But, said Gullett, Reith's aggressiveness inside “tells you he has a lot of confidence in his stuff.”

        • Reith relied more on his slider, which was erratic in his first two outings, than on his change-up, which he had favored. “He knows what pitch to go with and when it's working,” Gullett said.

Scott Sullivan looks at the scoreboard after giving up the Cardinals' second run in the ninth. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        • Reith remained poised. In the fourth, after center fielder Ruben Rivera's two-base error left Cardinals on second and third with one out, Reith struck out Mike Matheny and opposing pitcher Darryl Kile (7-3). Third baseman Brandon Larson's fielding error loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Reith again struck out Kile before Mercado entered.

        “That the type of demeanor is positive for a lot of pitchers,” Gullett said. “They're not ranting and raving about an umpire's call or making a bad pitch. He just goes out there real cool, calm and collected about the whole deal.”

        That's partly how Harnisch has lasted for 12 seasons in the majors. But Sunday's frustrating throwing session indicated he won't be back right away.

        “We'll start all over again,” said Gullett, adding that Harnisch probably will wait three to four days before trying to throw again. When he does so, it'll be on flat ground, which places less stress on an arm — and further delays Harnisch's possible return.

        “It wasn't encouraging,” Boone said.

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