By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

SAN JUAN, P.R. - They may not be done. The Reds thoroughly shook things up Saturday by sending three players out and calling up four.

It worked. Sunday, the Reds beat Montreal 7-5 to snap a five-game losing streak. But if the Reds slip back to their woeful ways, there could be more moves in the offing.

"We're going to make moves until we make the team competitive," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "It's been an embarrassing start to the season. We're not going to watch the same players do the same thing night after night."

One possible change could put reliever John Riedling in the starting rotation. He'd move into the spot created when Chris Reitsma, brought up to start Wednesday's game, goes into the bullpen.

Aaron Boone is going back to third base from second - at least temporarily. Consider the roster and roles fluid.

"We still have an awful lot of unknowns," Reds manager Bob Boone said.

The fluid approach comes after the patient approach resulted in the worst start since 1986.

When the record got to be 5-13 with two losses in the doubleheader, it was clear that something had to be done to prompt a turnaround.

"It's been building up for some time," Bowden said. "We haven't played well since the opening bell - not just not played well, we've been horrible. We scored 12 runs (Saturday) and lost both games."

But Bowden said there were more to the moves than a shakeup.

"It's part of it," he said. "But it's more that we weren't getting people out. You can't keep watching it night after night after night."

The Reds brought pitchers Reitsma, Jeff Austin and Brian Reith up from Louisville. Pitchers Josias Manzanillo and Jimmy Anderson were designated for assignment. Another spot had been open since Jimmy Haynes was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

"We brought up guys who are pitching well down at Triple-A," Bowden said. "They are young guys who people liked in spring training. We'll give them an opportunity to do a better job than what we've been looking at."

Reitsma, the 25-year-old right-hander, was the last man cut before Opening Day. He was 1-2 with 4.00 ERA at Louisville.

Reith, also a 25-year-old right-hander, went 0-7 with a 7.81 ERA for the Reds in 2001. He's been dominant since moving to the bullpen, going 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA at Louisville. He's allowed only seven hits and struck out 15 in 10 /3 innings.

Austin, a 26-year-old right-hander, was 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA at Louisville. The Reds obtained him in a four-player deal with Kansas City on March 6.

Austin and Reitsma will go into the starting rotation. Reitsma will start Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Austin takes the spot of Anderson. He'll likely start against San Diego on Friday.

But, again, things are in flux.

"I still think Chris Reitsma's best role is out of the 'pen," Boone said. "I've always liked Riedling as a starter."

Boone continued: "We've got him stretched out where he could throw 50, 60 pitches."

Riedling, the 27-year-old right-hander, is all for starting.

"I really like to do it," Riedling said. "I think I can be successful. This spring training, I developed a change. That can be a big pitch for a starter."

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com