By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

Once rumored to be interested in Roberto Alomar, the Reds on Sunday traded instead for the player directly affected when Alomar was dealt to the White Sox last week.

Cincinnati acquired switch-hitting middle infielder D'Angelo Jimenez from Chicago for Double-A Chattanooga relief pitcher Scott Dunn.

"We tried to look for somebody who could help us off the bench that could put the ball in play," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "We needed a guy that had a history of pretty good on-base percentages throughout his career.

"It doesn't affect (Ray) Olmedo. He's our second baseman. We're just adding to our bench. That's all."

Jimenez, who was designated for assignment by the White Sox on Wednesday, will join the team today in Houston. He takes the roster spot opened when seldom-used outfielder Wily Mo Pena went on the disabled list.

Jimenez batted .255 with 7 homers and 26 RBI in 73 games for the White Sox this season, and has a .263 average and .341 on-base percentage during his career.

Originally signed by the Yankees in 1994, Jimenez was a top prospect before breaking his neck in a car accident while in the Dominican Republic in January 2000.

He was traded to San Diego in July 2001 and from San Diego to the White Sox in July 2002.

Dunn, a 10th round pick in the 1999 draft, was 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA and 8 saves in 31 relief appearances at Chattanooga.

RESTING UP: Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. did not start for the second consecutive game, but was available to pinch-hit.

Griffey was scratched from the starting lineup before Saturday's game after feeling dizzy and light-headed and received two bags of fluid intravenously.

"I still feel warm," he said before Sunday's game. "We've got the air conditioning on (at the house) like the Arctic Circle."

THE LEFTIES: Relief pitcher Kent Mercker, on the disabled list with a sprained lower back, will accompany the team on its road trip this week to Houston and Milwaukee.

He will throw in the bullpen Tuesday and is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday.

Fellow lefty reliever Gabe White (strained left groin) was eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, but will pitch an inning for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

"My gut is (Mercker) will be ready to go (Thursday)," Boone said. "I would hope that Gabe is going to be right there in that general vicinity."

ODDS AND ENDS: Timo Perez's leadoff homer in the first inning was the fifth allowed by a Reds starter this season. . . . Tony Clark's home run in the ninth inning was the first allowed by Reds reliever Brian Reith this season.

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E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com