By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

He hoped the second half would mean more success. But for Jimmy Haynes, his first start since the All-Star break was simply forgettable.

The Reds right-hander, who entered Saturday's start against the Astros with a 2-9 record and 5.29 ERA, allowed six earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings.

Houston hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the first inning as the Reds got down 5-0 before they even batted.

"Everything just felt bad: mechanics, body, arm," said Haynes, who had allowed one run in seven innings in his previous outing against the Brewers on July 12. "It just didn't feel like I had anything on my pitches. I was just kind of tumbling my breaking pitches in there. Everything was up.

"Against a team like this, if you don't get the ball down, it's going to be a long day.

Haynes isn't the first starter to allow three homers in the first inning.

Jeff Austin, who's now pitching for Triple-A Louisville, gave up three home runs in a start against the Braves on May 28. The Cardinals hit three homers off Paul Wilson on June 25.

INQUIRING MIND: Though an MRI on his injured right shoulder showed no serious damage, Reds outfielder Austin Kearns has done some investigating on his own.

The Reds outfielder, who went on the disabled list Thursday with an inflamed right rotator cuff Thursday, has asked teammates Sean Casey and Russell Branyan about the shoulder injuries they experienced that led to surgery.

"Casey had MRIs last year that didn't show anything," Kearns said. "I've asked him just to try and get an idea.

"Sometimes it's just a little achy, like a weak feeling. Other times it's a sharp pain."

STICK A FORK IN HIM: Consistently one of the most reliable and oft-used relievers in the game, Scott Sullivan needed a break.

"You know those long barbecue grill forks? It felt like somebody stabbed me with one every time I threw a pitch," Sullivan said.

The right-hander, who has led the Reds in appearances the past five seasons and has pitched in 45 games this season, was placed on the disabled list Friday.

An MRI showed that Sullivan was suffering from right shoulder tendonitis. He is eligible to come off the DL on July 29.

"Hopefully it calms down and only takes what's left of the disabled period," manager Bob Boone said. "He's been pushing it pretty hard."

THE FIFTH STARTER: The Reds have decided that pitcher Jose Acevedo will start against the Brewers on Monday. Acevedo was recalled from Triple-A Louisville, where he went 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts and 6-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 29 appearances overall.

On Saturday, Acevedo pitched a scoreless ninth against the Astros.

ODDS AND ENDS: In their past five games against the Astros, Reds starters have allowed 20 runs in the first inning. . . . With his infield single in the first inning, second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez extended his hitting streak to nine games.