Monday, May 06, 2002
Notes: Larkin lowered in batting order
Shortstop gets 2 hits in 7th spot
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN FRANCISCO — The problem is not in your box score. Lines weren't transposed. Barry Larkin really did hit seventh in the order in the Reds' 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants Sunday.
It was the first time in his career he has been that low in the batting order. He had hit sixth 11 times — most recently May 12, 1998 against Atlanta. Since Aug. 26, 1999 — when he hit fifth in one game — Larkin has either been first, second or third in the order.
The reason for the dropping of Larkin was obvious. The Reds needed to do something to put some life in the lineup.
“I'm trying to give Barry a little break by moving him down,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.
The Reds came into Sunday having scored one run in their past 25 innings. They hit .160 in the first five games of the six-game, West Coast road trip. Larkin was one of the hitters struggling most. He entered Sunday with four hits in his past 34 at-bats (.118) and was hitting .190 overall.
The move worked. Larkin had two hits Sunday, and the Reds scored five runs on 10 hits. That's the most they've scored in a game since April 27.
Todd Walker batted leadoff for the second straight day. Larkin hit leadoff the past 11 games before Sunday. Walker had only two hits in his past 22 at-bats before Sunday, but the Reds don't have many alternatives.
“He's been swinging the bat pretty well,” Boone said.
The other big move Sunday was pushing up Austin Kearns to the fourth spot. Kearns cooled off since missing two games after being hit on the helmet by a pitch Tuesday. He was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored Sunday. He leads the Reds in on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.578).
MORE LARKIN: Larkin left Sunday's game after the sixth inning with tightness in his right hamstring. Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek will evaluate him today.
“Hopefully, I'll be able to play (today),” Larkin said.
NO HARD FEELINGS: Felix Rodriguez hopes the semi-feud between the Reds and the Giants ended with Sunday's final game of the season series. Rodriguez started the whole thing by hitting Casey with a pitch after Gabe White had thrown one over Barry Bonds' head the inning before last Sunday at Cinergy Field.
Casey reacted angrily. That set off some verbal shots from both sides.
“It's in the past,” Rodriguez said. “I feel bad because Casey is a great guy. It's not personal. I've got to protect our guy. But I feel bad hitting a guy like Casey.”
Casey and Rodriguez did not speak during the series.
“If we did, I would have told him, "No hard feelings,'” Casey said.
RIEDLING RACKED: John Riedling's first outing at Double-A Chattanooga was not a good one. He allowed three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
SILVA UPDATE: Reds general manager Jim Bowden said right-hander Jose Silva will be sent on a rehab assignment if all goes well in today's session at Cinergy.
As a pitcher, Silva can spend as many as 30 days on a rehab assignment. With position players, it's 20 days.
TOUGH TRAVEL: The Reds weren't scheduled to arrive in Cincinnati until 1:30 a.m. today. They have a game at 7:10 p.m. Usually West Coast trips are followed by an off day.
“I thought that was the rule,” Larkin said.
Someone suggested the players could simply not show up.
“I haven't been showing up all year,” Larkin said.
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Notes: Larkin lowered in batting order
