Reds manager Bob Boone, left, and pitching coach Tom Gullett watch pitcher Carlos Almanzar after he was injured in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        ARLINGTON, Texas — Reds manager Bob Boone was talking the other day about how it seemed destiny might be on his team's side. It sure didn't seem like that Monday night.

        Right-hander Carlos Almanzar, making his first start as a major-leaguer, didn't make it out of the first inning in the Reds' 8-2 loss to the Texas Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington.

        Almanzar suffered a hairline fracture of his right index finger when he tried to bare-hand a ball off the bat of Texas' Alex Rodriguez. One of his replacements, right-hander Jose Silva, also left after an ankle injury.

        Almanzar was put on the 15-day disabled list — he could miss more than a month — and replaced on the roster by John Riedling.

        “Really rough night, losing two pitchers to injury,” Boone said.

Jose Silva rolls off the mound after stumbling in the sixth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds' lead in the National League Central remained at one game since the Cardinals lost 10-0 to the Seattle Mariners.

        The Reds have lost six of their last nine games and are 1-3 on the road trip.

        “I don't know that we're unraveling,” Boone said. “We look like we've got some guys tired. We've had some days off, but we have a lot of guys playing every day.”

        Almanzar got the first outs routinely, then Rodriguez hit one through the middle and Almanzar made a grab at it.

        “That's just natural reaction,” Almanzar said. “You see a ball coming, you try to catch it.”

Rangers second baseman Michael Young turns the double play over Sean Casey. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Reds trainer Greg Lynn, Boone and pitching coach Don Gullett came out and checked on Almanzar, who was allowed to continue after throwing a few warmup pitches. Almanzar knew it was bad. His arm was numb immediately afterward.

        “But I wanted to try to finish,” Almanzar said. “I finally got a chance to start after all this time.”

        Almanzar walked Juan Gonzalez, then gave up a single to Rafael Palmeiro. Rodriguez tried to score on Palmeiro's hit and right fielder Austin Kearns' throw beat A-Rod to the plate by 8 feet. But catcher Jason LaRue had to leap to get it and fell over backward when he came down. Rodriguez tagged the plate right in front of LaRue. After Almanzar started Herbert Perry with a ball, he was pulled.

        While Almanzar was being examined, the Reds had the little matter of getting through the next 7 1/3 innings. The Reds were in a rough spot because their long reliever, righty Jim Brower, had gone three innings on Sunday.

Alex Rodriguez lunges toward the plate to score ahread of Jason LaRue's tag in the first inning . (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Right-hander Scott Sullivan was brought in and allowed to warm up on the mound.

        “That's a different role for Sully,” Boone said. “But I wanted to stop it right there. I wanted to avoid the homer.”

        Of course, on a night like Monday, Sullivan gave up the homer: a long shot to Perry that made it 4-0.

        Sullivan, who hadn't given up a run in his previous five appearances, struggled in the second inning as well. He walked Ryan Ludwick to start the inning. Michael Young, the No. 9 hitter, then hit the second pitch from Sullivan out for a two-run homer.

        “I feel like . . . I could have gotten guys out,” Sullivan said. “(But) I didn't. Yeah, it's definitely a different role than setting up, but I don't want to say anything that sounds like an excuse.”

        So after being down 5-0 after two innings Sunday, the Reds found themselves down 6-0 after two innings Monday.

        The Reds had a couple of chances to stay in it early. They had first and second with one out in the first, but couldn't get a big hit. In the second, they loaded the bases with two outs, but Sean Casey grounded out.

        “We had our chances,” Boone said. “That was the game. It's difficult when you get down early like we have the last two days.”

        Texas starter Ismael Valdes settled down after that. He didn't allow another runner to reach second until LaRue doubled with one out in the seventh.

        The Reds' pitching injury troubles didn't end with Almanzar. Silva, making his second outing since coming off the DL, took over for Sullivan. He went 3 2/3 innings before hurting himself making a pitch. He had to leave the game with a sprained left ankle and is listed as day-to-day.

        The Reds broke up the shutout with two runs in the ninth.

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