Friday, September 20, 2002
Griffey will play final two at Cinergy
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PITTSBURGH - Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. was back in the Reds' lineup Thursday night. The plan is to give Griffey tonight off, then play him in the final two games at Cinergy Field.
“I probably shouldn't have him in there (Thursday),” Boone said. “But I got greedy after what I saw last night.”
Griffey homered, singled and made a great catch Wednesday in his first start since Aug. 29. On Thursday, he went 4-for-4 with a run scored.
Boone expects Sunday's starter, Jose Rijo, to pitch only a few innings.
“I think Jose can go three or four, max,” Boone said. “But I'll go based on how he is throwing.”
Right-hander Brian Moehler probably will follow Rijo in Sunday's game. Moehler started Wednesday night.
LaRUE OK: Reds catcher Jason LaRue suffered a deep bruise to his left calf when Pittsburgh's Brian Giles slid into him in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game.
“It's swollen and sore,” LaRue said. “But it's better. I should be able to play (Friday).”
Kelly Stinnett started Thursday and probably will start through the weekend. But LaRue was available - even for Thursday.
“There's a difference between being hurt and not being able to play,” Boone said. “He's hurting. But his leg's not going to fall off.”
LaRue had no quarrel with Giles' slide.
“Of course, it was clean,” LaRue said. “That's the way to play the game. He was trying to break up the double play. I'd do the same thing if I was on third.”
END OF THE 'PEN: Former Reds starters Shawn Estes and Jared Fernandez are in the bullpen, but their chances of getting in a game are fairly slim.
“When the starters go six or seven innings, you go with your best (relievers),” Boone said.
Estes has never pitched relief, and as a knuckleballer, Fernandez isn't well-suited for short relief.
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Griffey will play final two at Cinergy
