By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ST. LOUIS - The left groin strain that kept Gabe White from pitching in Tuesday's 14-inning, 7-4 victory againstSt. Louis landed him on the disabled list Wednesday.

Brian Reith was recalled from Louisville to take White's roster spot.

With White unable to pitch, the Reds had to use starter and former closer Danny Graves to pitch the 14th inning.

It's the same injury that had White on the DL from Aug. 29 to the end of last season.

"It's in the exact same spot," he said. "But it's not as bad. I'm going to go to Cincinnati for some aggressive rehab. Hopefully, I'll be back in a week and a half."

White injured his leg Friday in Phoenix in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The move was retroactive to Friday, so White is eligible to come off the list July 6.

"I think I did it pitching to (Steve) Finley," White said. "I was just throwing a fastball. I was able to stay in for a couple more batters. I don't like coming off the field hurt in the middle of an inning."

White was on the DL twice last year - once for the groin strain and once for a broken little toe. They were the first two stints on the DL in his eight-year big league career.

White, 3-0 with a 3.93 ERA, has been one of the Reds' most effective pitchers. Take away his one bad outing - he gave up six runs to Philadelphia June 14 - and his ERA would be 2.41. He knew he was susceptible to re-injuring the groin.

"It's something I don't think could be avoided," he said. "As pitchers, we repeat the exact same movement over and over again."

REITH'S BACK: Reith was sent back to Louisville May 27 for one reason: He had options.

The Reds needed someone to eat up innings because of a run of early exits by the starting pitcher, so they called up Joey Hamilton.

"I understood," Reith said. "But it was still hard to swallow."

Reith, a 25-year-old right-hander, did not let his disappointment affect his performance at Louisville

He was 1-1 with 1.96 ERA in 16 games for the Bats. He allowed 12 hits in 23 innings and struck out 28.

"I just tried to do my job and wait for an opportunity to come along," he said.

Reith was 1-0 with a 3.82 ERA in his first stint with the Reds. He started the ninth Wednesday and allowed two runs in one-third of an inning.

AN OH-NO 0-FOR: Jason LaRue went 0-for-7 in Tuesday's game. In doing so, he became the first Reds player to go 0-for-7 since Kurt Stillwell did it on July 24, 1986.

FATHER KNOWS BEST: After blowing his second save in as many outings, Scott Williamson spent three hours on the phone with his father, Ray, Tuesday night.

"I've always been able to talk to him," Williamson said. "He tells me exactly what's going on. He said it looked like I was falling over out there. He said my pitches were so flat he could hit them."

Williamson knew the problem was mechanical. He and pitching coach Don Gullett had a bullpen session before Wednesday's game.

"I was able to hit my spots," he said. "The ball was moving."

Williamson's big mistake Tuesday was the pitch that Tino Martinez hit out for a two-run homer in the ninth. Williamson tried to keep the ball away from Martinez.

"But the ball went right down the middle third," Williamson said, "right to his power."

UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the series tonight at 8:10 against the Cardinals (Fox Sports Net).

Jimmy Anderson (1-4, 7.22 ERA) faces Woody Williams (9-2, 2.55). The Reds do not play the Cards again until Aug. 29-31 at home.