HOUSTON — Manager Bob Boone knows that if he tries to continue his pitching staff's balancing act much longer, the bullpen will crash to earth.

Pokey Reese waits for the throw as Lance Berkman steals second. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        It's actually an imbalance of innings that's threatening Cincinnati's pitchers. The starters, with four rookies in the rotation, rarely work deep into games, forcing the bullpen to carry a disproportionate load. While Reds starters rank 15th in the National League in innings pitched (395 1/3), the bullpen tops the majors in the same category (269 1/3).

        This season-long trend persisted Sunday at Enron Field, where the Reds lost 7-5 to the Houston Astros. After winning extra-inning thrillers in the first two games against Houston, the Reds (28-46) lost the final pair to conclude the series on a decidedly flat note.

        It'll get worse unless the starters become more durable. If they don't, the relief corps will fray. Boone called the next two weeks “criti cal” to the staff. But he admitted that the Reds currently have no potential replacements for the current starters, except for long reliever Jim Brower.

        “I know we can't go around the rotation too many times like we've done this last one. Or we'll have six bullpen guys rehabbing,” Boone said.

Ken Griffey Jr. retreats to first on a pick off play. He was picked off later. | ZOOM |

        Though Brian Reith helped the bullpen by completing six innings Saturday, Jose Acevedo lasted only three batters into the fifth inning Sunday. Once Acevedo departed, the bullpen was less than perfect — providing a hint of future collapses unless something's done.

        Brower allowed both runners he inherited from Acevedo to score. Mark Wohlers suffered the same fate in the ninth, replacing Chris Nichting (0-1) with Astros at the corners, one out and the score tied 5-5. Jeff Bagwell's grounder to shortstop was hit too slowly for a double play, enabling Julio Lugo to score. After an intentional walk to Lance Berkman, who's batting .556 (20-for-36) this year against Cincinnati, Moises Alou hit an RBI single.

        “Usually you don't want (Bagwell) to hit the ball hard,” Wohlers said. “If he hit it a little bit harder, we might have had a chance to turn two ... It's frustrating because you're standing on the mound giving up the go-ahead runs. At the same time, I wanted to come in and get a ground ball. I did what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, once you release the ball, you can't control where it goes.”

        Fortunately for the Reds, the bullpen can rest during today's off-day, their last before the July 9-11 All-Star break. They open a two-game series Tuesday at St. Louis.

        “We're carrying a (load) down there in the bullpen. I'm thankful we have seven relievers,” Wohlers said. “If we didn't, I think some of us might miss flights from spending more time in the training room. It's not a knock against the young guys. It's just a fact.”

        The relievers' league-best ERA of 3.27 increases Boone's temptation to summon them.

        “The tough thing for me is letting the (starters) get through it,” Boone said. “You definitely can't go get them too quickly. At the same time, you don't want to overexpose them and have them take a beating. But at some point, you have to protect the bullpen.”

        So far, the bullpen has protected itself from injuries borne of overuse. But more than half the season remains.

        “We are pitching a lot, but at the same time, nobody's going out there hurt or sore,” Wohlers said. “I feel comfortable enough to where I can tell the manager, "Look, I need a day off.' For the most part, Gully (pitching coach Don Gullett) has been great about asking us if we need a day off.”

        Communication isn't the only preventative measure against a bullpen breakdown.

        “If you can go through your rotation one time and get two or three guys to go seven, that's what protects them,” Boone said.

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