Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Boone still mulling No. 5 starter
Pineda, Chen, Hudson cited as possibilities
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds manager Bob Boone is undecided on who will start Friday's home game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Right-hander Luis Pineda made the last two starts in the No. 5 spot. He pitched five shutout innings in his first start. In his second start Sunday, he didn't make it out of the first inning, retiring only one batter.
“I may need him in the bullpen,” Boone said.
The other candidates?
“Luke Hudson's a possibility,” Boone said. “(Bruce) Chen is a possibility. Pineda's a possibility.”
Chen, a left-hander obtained from Montreal for Jim Brower, made one start for the Reds. He went four innings, allowing five runs in the Reds' 10-3 loss to Oakland on June 22.
Hudson, a 25-year-old right-hander, pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his Reds debut Monday.
He was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Friday. He was 4-6 with a 4.57 ERA at Louisville.
WALKER RESTS: Todd Walker's reward for a four-hit, four-RBI game was a seat on the bench.
Juan Castro started for Walker on Monday night.
With Houston Astros left-hander Carlos Hernandez pitching, Boone took advantage of the chance to rest the left-handed Walker.
“We're going into a really hot time,” Boone said. “A game like (Sunday's) just really takes it out of you. I don't expect them to play every day, especially now that we can put (Russell) Branyan in there.”
Walker had a pinch-hit single in the seventh Monday.
ACTUALLY, 1972: The Reds wore old-style uniforms to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the first game at Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field. But the red-and-white double knits the Reds wore Monday actually weren't used until 1972.
That is according to Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century, which documents uniform changes throughout baseball history. In 1970, the Reds wore uniforms with button-down tops and no piping.
Photos confirm that fact.
GUESS WHO? Aaron Boone, the much-maligned one, led the Reds with 15 RBI in June. He tied Juan Encarnacion for the club lead for home runs with five. The Reds went 11-15 for the month.
Pitchers Jimmy Haynes (3-1, 3.64 ERA) and Elmer Dessens (2-1, 2.21) both had excellent months. Chris Reitsma (0-4, 5.29) and Joey Hamilton (0-3, 6.11) struggled.
The most productive player? Reggie Taylor, who had nine RBI in 35 at-bats. That's an RBI every 3.9 at-bats. San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds leads the NL with an RBI every 4.1 at-bats.
FARM REPORT: Outfielder Ruben Mateo extended his hitting streak to nine games Sunday by going 1-for-3 with a homer in Louisville's 5-4 loss to Richmond. Mateo is hitting .412 with three homers and seven RBI in the streak.
Single-A Dayton had a 13-game winning streak ended Monday.
UP NEXT: The Reds take on the Astros in the second game of the three-game series. Reds right-hander Joey Hamilton (3-5, 4.66) faces Astros right-hander Wade Miller (3-3, 5.58) tonight.
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Boone still mulling No. 5 starter
