Thursday, August 22, 2002
Reds Notebook: Griffey misses another start
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PHOENIX — Ken Griffey Jr. was out of the Reds' starting lineup for the fifth straight game and 87th overall.
“I can't afford to take him off the bench,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “Any time I need one point, I got it.”
Boone was kidding - he wants Griffey in the lineup - but the outfielder has been good off the bench. Griffey drove in four of the Reds' six runs Monday and Tuesday.
Boone wouldn't say whether Griffey will play tonight. Griffey has a left quadriceps strain and a sore hip flexor.
MATEO OK: Outfielder Ruben Mateo was available to pinch hit Wednesday night after being hit in the right big toe by a Randy Johnson pitch Tuesday.
“It's OK,” Mateo said. “I'm going to see what I can do.”
Mateo is lucky. A Johnson pitch broke Brandon Larson's toe in the Arizona left-hander's start last Thursday against the Reds at Cinergy Field. Larson is on the disabled list and could be out four to six weeks.
Mateo wouldn't have started Wednesday's game anyway, with D'backs right-hander Curt Schilling pitching. Boone's plan is to platoon Mateo and Reggie Taylor while Griffey is out, although Taylor might play some against left-handers.
“He's swinging the bat pretty good,” Boone said. “We don't have too many other guys hitting triples off Randy (Johnson).”
Taylor's numbers - .265, seven homers, 29 RBI in 170 at-bats entering Wednesday - make him one of the more productive Reds on a per-at-bat basis.
HITTING 400: Barry Larkin's double to lead off Tuesday night's game was the 400th of his career. The shortstop is second on the Reds' all-time list to Pete Rose's 601.
FARM REPORT: Left-hander Lance Davis had another good outing at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He went seven innings, allowing a run on seven hits, in a 6-1 win over Toledo.
Louisville infielder Chris Sexton is making a strong case for a September call-up. He extended his road hitting streak to 22 games with a single. During the streak, Sexton is hitting .402 with five home runs and 20 RBI.
Top draft pick Chris Gruler threw six innings of hitless ball for Single-A Dayton in a 3-2, 13-inning loss to Cedar Rapids on Tuesday.
Gruler walked two, struck out six and allowed an unearned run.
UP NEXT: The Reds conclude their series against Arizona with a 9:35 p.m. game today. Reds right-hander Chris Reitsma (4-8, 3.41 ERA) faces D'backs right-hander Miguel Batista (6-7, 4.08).
It is Reitsma's first start for the Reds since July 20.
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Reds Notebook: Griffey misses another start
