By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

MILWAUKEE - If the Reds plan on acquiring some help, they have less than three weeks until the trade deadline.

But have the club's recent struggles - eight consecutive losses entering Friday's game against the Brewers - affected its approach as July 31 draws closer?

That remains unclear.

"How a team plays always affects its strategy," said Reds general manager Jim Bowden, who met with manager Bob Boone in private for more than an hour before Friday's game. "I'm not going to comment beyond that at this point."

As recently as Sunday, Bowden had said the Reds were among the dozens of teams searching for starting pitching, but that he would not part with Adam Dunn or Austin Kearns.

A POSSIBILITY? There might be a developing option at Triple-A Louisville.

After making 26 relief appearances for the Bats, Jose Acevedo started his third consecutive game Wednesday. He allowed two runs on five hits in a no-decision.

He is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA, 13 strikeouts and three walks as a starter this season.

"We continue to put emphasis on developing a starter," said Tim Naehring, Reds director of player development. "We figure we've run through a bunch of guys in that role. Let's see if Mr. Acevedo can jump back in there and see what he can do."

LEADING OFF: Projected as an extra hand off the bench when he was acquired Sunday, D'Angelo Jimenez started his fourth consecutive game Friday and led off for the third straight time.

"He has the most experience leading off," Boone said. "I kind of like his approaches. He's pretty patient and has professional approaches."

The second baseman entered with a .278 batting average and .345 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter with the White Sox and Reds this season.

FAMILIAR FEELING: Still bothered by a bruised rotator cuff in his left shoulder, catcher Jason LaRue was not in the starting lineup for the seventh consecutive game.

The injury, sustained when a pitch thrown by the Indians' Jason Davis hit him June 29, is similar in proximity to the one LaRue experienced in a game against the Brewers in September 2001.

LaRue was hit then by a Mac Suzuki pitch and missed seven starts.

"It's the same deal, but not near as bad," he said.

LaRue remains day-to-day.

HEADS UP: Relief pitcher Chris Reitsma was struck on the right side of his head by a batted ball during batting practice Friday.

Brewers catcher Eddie Perez was taking his swings when he hit a ball into the left-field corner. Reitsma was struck and fell to the ground but was on his feet after a few seconds and available to pitch.

ODDS AND ENDS: Ken Griffey Sr. made an appearance in the Reds clubhouse prior to the game.

• The Giants signed former Reds pitcher Jimmy Anderson to a minor-league contract Thursday and assigned him to Triple-A Fresno.