By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Monday's game

Give Felipe Lopez credit. He took his demotion to Triple-A Louisville just like the Reds hoped he would.

"I'm not mad or disappointed," he said. "This is to help me. You can't look at it any other way. It's to help me."

Lopez's roster spot was taken by left-hander Jimmy Anderson, who started Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Lopez, 23, is in a prolonged slump. He had six hits in his last 47 at-bats (.128) and two hits - both infield hits - in his last 27 at-bats (.074).

"He hasn't been the guy we saw in spring training," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "He needs to get things worked out on his stroke and play every day."

Lopez's fate was sealed when Rainer Olmedo outplayed him since being promoted from Double-A Chattanooga.

"The way Rainer has played made it pretty clear cut," Boone said. "Right now, Rainer is a lot more sound mechanically."

Lopez will play shortstop and lead off in Louisville.

"I've got to play," he said. "Hopefully, I'll go down there and get straightened out. Then, hopefully, come back and help the team."

Lopez's struggles did not go unnoticed by the fans. He was booed lustily.

"That affects anyone," Boone said. "He's a sensitive kid. He's young. You need a lot of experience for that not to affect you."

Barry Larkin doesn't think this changes the long-range plan for Lopez to replace him at shortstop.

"This is a bump in the road," Larkin said. "The plan hasn't changed. He's still going to take the reins."

Olmedo may have something to say about that, however.

He entered Monday hitting .375 (6-for-16) over his last six games and is defensively superior to Lopez.

BOONE HONORED: Aaron Boone was named the National League Player of the Week after going 10-for-18 with a home run, two doubles and seven RBI.

That didn't keep his teammates from badgering him about it.

Adam Dunn wanted to know if Reds manager Bob Boone, Aaron's father, did some campaigning. Someone else said Luke Prokopec, on the disabled list, must have been runner-up. "I know it's a slow week," Aaron said. "But jeez."

It's the second time Boone has been honored. He also won for the week of May 5-11 He's the first Red to win the award twice in a season since Eric Davis in 1987.

NO WORD: The Reds did not hear anything on anticipated suspensions from Friday night's brawl with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I don't think they'll forget about us," Bob Boone said.

FARM REPORT: Right-hander Ryan Mottl allowed one unearned run on four hits in seven innings Sunday in Chattanooga's 11-3 win over Birmingham.