By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's game

PITTSBURGH - Even without the suspensions of Sean Casey and Jose Guillen, the Reds were short-handed for the opening game of the three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday night.

Guillen and Jason LaRue both had to leave Sunday's game against Cleveland after being hit by pitches. Guillen was in the lineup; LaRue wasn't.

Guillen was hit on the hand by Jason Davis, who consistently throws 95 mph; LaRue was hit by Danys Baez, who throws upward of 97 mph.

"I consider myself very lucky," Guillen said. "My hand went to sleep. I couldn't feel anything for 25 minutes."

LaRue was hit on the back of his left shoulder.

"It's a lot better than (Monday)," he said. "But I have a deep bruise in my shoulder. I've lost strength. Balls above my head, I have trouble catching."

Austin Kearns was out of the lineup for the second straight game after bruising his left quadriceps running into the wall making a catch in Cleveland.

He is doubtful for today's game as well.

MORE KEARNS: Kearns went to Cincinnati to have an MRI on his shoulder. The MRI was normal.

Kearns suffered the shoulder injury when Atlanta's Ray King fell on him in a collision at the plate May 21.

In the 44 games before the injury, Kearns hit .309 with 13 homers and 44 RBI. In the 31 games since, he is hitting .219 with two homers and 13 RBI.

TRADE TALK: A report in the New York Post said the Reds contacted the New York Mets about Roberto Alomar Sunday.

Alomar was traded to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for three prospects.

Reds general manager Jim Bowden would not comment on trade talks. But he continues to stress that pitching is the club's No. 1 priority, although the Reds would like to add a leadoff man.

The Mets will pay all but $150,000 of what is due Alomar under his $8 million contract. That fact made the deal appealing to the Reds.

FREE JIMMY: Jimmy Anderson, designated for assignment by the Reds on Friday, refused the assignment to Louisville and opted for free agency.

Anderson was 1-5 with a 8.84 ERA.

PITCHER OF MONTH? Chris Reitsma was one of the nominees for June pitcher of the month.

Reitsma has a shot at winning the award. He was 4-0 with a 0.51 ERA in June.

"I don't think about numbers," he said. "I go out and pitch and do the best I can."

Reitsma, 7-2, already has surpassed last year's six wins.

"(Boone's) put me in tight games," Reitsma said. "I've been able to put up zeros, and we've scored some runs."

ACE FOLI: Third base coach Tim Foli scored a hole-in-one on the Olde Stonewall Golf Course in the Roberto Clemente Tournament Monday.

Foli used a pitching wedge on the 133-yard hole.

"It's neat, because I've never done it before," Foli said.

Foli, a three-handicapper, is the top player in the Reds' golf-playing crew. He won a sand wedge.

"My daughter called and said, 'What kind of car did you win for me?' " Foli said. "I said, 'Honey, you can drive that sand wedge if you want.' "

GRANDPA MARTY: Marty Brennaman is a grandfather for the third time.

Son Thom's wife, Polly, had the couple's first child Monday. Ella Mae and Polly are fine. It is Marty's first granddaughter.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Paul Wilson (5-5, 4.63 ERA) faces right-hander Kip Wells (2-3, 3.59) in the second game of the three-game series tonight at 7:05.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com